Kay's story
“They said I had stage three small cell lung cancer in my left lung. I was shocked when they told me, it knocked me for six. I was very healthy, I ran a lot, I walked the dogs every day, and at no point did I ever feel unwell or like I had cancer.”
Kay Sweeney, 71, from Ballycroy, Co. Mayo, was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2024 after taking part in an NHS trial, where she had a multi-cancer early detection blood test called Galleri. Kay, who lives in Cambridge, England, also participated in the trial in 2022 and 2023, when her tests came back clear.
“I went to a mobile unit for the tests, which meant I didn’t have to go to hospital, which was great,” says Kay. “In June 2024, I went for a blood test after getting invited that year.
“A few days later, I was in Germany visiting my son, when I got a call from the team running the trial. They asked if I’d be free to take a call from one of their medical professionals at 2 o’clock that afternoon, so I immediately knew something was up.
“When I got that call, they asked me a lot of questions before they told me I had cancer.”
Ahead of starting immunotherapy and chemotherapy in August 2024, Kay decided to go on a 30-mile bike ride and a 10-mile hike as she still felt fit and healthy. She started her treatment just as her husband, John, was finishing his treatment for prostate cancer. He is now on a hormone drug and is doing well.
“I started my treatment in August 2024 and finished it in early November. On the 25th of November, I had surgery to remove a mass – they removed three-quarters of my left lung. The surgeon said that there was no cancer there, that the chemotherapy had killed it off.”
Throughout her experience, Kay, a mother of four and grandmother of three, was supported by her dedicated family, with her sons and her adult granddaughter taking turns staying with her and John as she went through treatment, while her wider family were also important sources of support.
She is grateful for the early detection blood test which revealed her lung cancer and would encourage anyone who is invited to take part in a screening or early detection programme to take part.
“If anyone gets invited to take part in a screening or an early detection programme to check for cancer, they must go – it’s so important. I had no symptoms whatsoever. It’s so important to take part when you’re offered the opportunity.”
Kay is now cancer-free and doing well. She walks 5k each day and goes for scans every six months, and frequently travels with John to see their sons who live abroad. She’s sharing her story to highlight the importance of early detection, and the difference it can make.
“I think it’s important for people to know cancer isn’t always bad,” says Kay. “There can be good outcomes too, if it’s caught early.”
