In April 2021, I turned 43, but it was an uneventful milestone. My daughter, Mia, was unwell, and by May, she had been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It wasn’t the news we expected, but it was a relief to finally have an answer.
With diabetes running in our family, a casual comment from a doctor about health checks got me thinking. A quick online search led me to a private health screening clinic in Melbourne. Before I could change my mind, I scheduled an appointment. That decision, made on a whim, would later prove to be life-saving.
A health check that mattered
Fast-forward to July 2023. I was 45 and found myself back at the GP with some persistent health issues. I had always brushed off minor aches and pains, chalking them up to age and busy days. This time, though, it was different. Breathlessness and excessive sweating were symptoms I couldn’t ignore—or rather, symptoms my husband, Hugh, couldn’t ignore.
It had been a challenging year. We had completed a full renovation of our home and weathered a cold, wet 2023 vintage. With the wines safely tucked away and the major tasks behind us, I had run out of excuses to delay the check-up.
The diagnosis
The GP ordered a chest X-ray and blood tests. The chest X-ray revealed a mass in the upper left lobe of my lung. I produced the results from the health screening I had undergone two years earlier, thinking they might offer some insight. The doctor promptly ordered a CT scan and additional bloodwork to rule out tuberculosis.
The CT scan provided a clearer picture. The mass had grown, and the signs pointed to something more serious. A biopsy was the next step. In early October, the results came in: lung cancer.
I was shocked. I had never smoked, and there was no family history of the disease. Yet there I was, facing the unimaginable.
Surgery and results
From that moment on, everything moved at a surreal pace. I was referred to a surgeon and scheduled for a lobectomy—the removal of part of my lung—on November 4. A PET scan would happen in between to determine whether the cancer had spread.
On the morning of the operation, I found myself on a hospital bed surrounded by patients awaiting heart surgery. I was the only one there for lung surgery and the only one under 60. The operation would take place in a cardiac operating room, my lung would be deflated, and I would be on life support for the duration of the three-to-four-hour procedure.
When I awoke in recovery, I was told the surgery had gone well. Along with the cancerous tissue, several lymph nodes were removed and sent for comprehensive genetic panel testing.
Two days later, the results were in. The lymph nodes were clear, showing no further spread of the cancer.
The more sobering news was that my lung cancer was linked to a rare compound mutation in a gene called EGFR. Had the cancer been further advanced when it was discovered, the outcome may have been very different. As my doctor explained, another six months may have changed everything.
Looking forward
I realised then how much that impulsive decision to undergo a health screening had mattered. It provided a baseline—a reference point that helped my doctors act quickly when it counted most.
Now, six months post-surgery, my latest CT scan shows no signs of cancer, leaving me hopeful for a full remission. I feel blessed to be alive and, unexpectedly, grateful for this experience. It has reminded me of the preciousness of life and prompted a re-evaluation of my priorities.
No one ever expects to develop cancer. However, early detection can give someone the best possible chance of a positive outcome. I hope that, by sharing my story, I can encourage others to take a proactive role in their own health and wellbeing, or offer insight into what it is like to go through something similar.
Thank you for taking the time to read my journey.
Cheers to optimal health.
Raquel x