A BARNSLEY woman with terminal lung cancer is backing a campaign to help people recognise the symptoms and encourage them to visit their GP.
Janet Rodgerson, 61, has lived with terminal cancer for 11 years. She is a former smoker who quit on the day she was diagnosed.
Janet experienced what she thought was a smoker's cough and her doctor prescribed different antibiotics but all were ineffective, so Janet was sent for a scan.
She said: "Before I got home, I got a phone call to say the doctor wanted to see me, and I just knew. I walked in and said 'I've got cancer haven't I?' and he said that I had. I was diagnosed on my 50th birthday."
Janet was referred to the chest clinic at Barnsley Hospital where she had some tests. It was initially thought she had lymphoma, but it was actually non-small cell lung cancer. She underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy and has tried to enjoy her life despite the diagnosis.
"I don't know what happened, but I survived thanks to the good work of the doctors and nurses. It is something outside of my control. I've just done what the doctors have told me and I've had my friends and family around me because that is very important. People say it is down to my positive attitude."
Janet now suffers with chest infections, and has to have scans to make sure the tumour hasn't grown. But she said: "I feel great actually. I can't thank the doctors and nurses enough for what they have done for me."
Janet is backing the Be Clear On Cancer campaign by Public Health England which urges people to see their doctor if they experience shortness of breath or a persistent cough for more than three weeks.
Julia Verne, clinical lead for PHE, said: "Breathlessness and a persistent cough are symptoms that can be easily ignored or put down to getting older, or seen as just minor health niggles. But these symptoms can be warning signs and it is really important to get them checked out by a doctor.
"People are more likely to urge others to seek medical help for these symptoms than to speak to a GP themselves. If anyone has concerns, we would encourage them to seek medical advice, as getting help early rather than waiting until the problem gets worse is vital.
Early diagnosis saves lives and can improve quality of life for people with long term conditions, so if you find yourself getting out of breath doing things you used to be able to do, or if you have a cough that has lasted for three weeks or more, get it checked out."
