A man whose wife survived a rare form of cancer after it was diagnosed early has joined a campaign to change how the disease is viewed.
Mother-of-two Jackie Hugill was diagnosed with carcinoid of the lung in July 2014, after visiting her GP about a persistent cough.
Although consultants reassured her the tumour was slow growing, within two months she had undergone surgery at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to have her entire right lung removed to stop the cancer spreading.
Now her husband, Steve, has backed the #MySurvivor campaign to highlight the importance of getting checked out.
The Scottish Government’s Detect Cancer Early campaign highlights the role of early diagnosis in improving cancer survival rates.
Mr Hugill said: “Without a doubt go to your GP and get anything that’s worrying you checked out. You’ll never know until you go and speak to someone.
“Even though it was an unsettling time, things turned out well for Jackie and we still do everything we used to like going out for walks together and she’s still always running around keeping herself busy.”
Mrs Hugill added: “Steve’s biggest worry was that I wasn’t going to get better because despite the reassurance of doctors, it’s just something that’s constantly in the back of your mind.
“Go and see your doctor as soon as you, or someone else notices something different. If you don’t go you may not have a future and I’m living proof, it’s not always bad.”
People can get involved in helping change the way the disease is viewed by telling their story using #MySurvivor.
For more information visit getcheckedearly.org
