Mum-of-one Jules Fielder was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer in 2021 and now requires scans every three months to tell her if she has another three months to live.
But Jules, 40, says the thought of being failed by the medical system is “terrifying” as she faces her life potentially changing dramatically overnight.
The cancer charity Macmillan said care services are “stuck in the noughties” and called on the next government to prioritise cancer care.
Jules, from Hastings, said: “I feel like if I didn’t fight for myself, I’d be left behind. When I’ve had a scan, I have to be on the case a few days later emailing my health care team to see if my results are in.
“If I don’t push for it, I don’t know how long I would sit in the system before I’d get the phone call I’ve been desperately waiting for to be told whether I have another three months to live. “As a stage four cancer patient, it’s terrifying to think that I could be failed by the medical system.
“It’s essential that I get the timely care I need because my life could change dramatically overnight. “The new government needs to truly listen to our health needs. We deserve to be healthy and happy.”
Jules, who lives with her partner and their son, was first diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2021, but the disease has since spread to her spine and pelvis. She was forced to leave her job after her diagnosis and no longer works.
Her cancer is incurable, meaning that she must have a CT scan every three months to tell her if she has another three months to live.
She says that having timely results to her scans is crucial to living her life to the full and that delays in results could drastically affect her life.
It comes as research from Macmillan released today shows that survival rates for some types of cancer are only now reaching survival rates which were reached by countries such as Sweden and Norway in the early 2000s.
The charity has called for the next government to prioritise cancer care after the General Election.
Gemma Peters, Macmillan chief executive, said: “It’s clear that cancer care is at breaking point but this is a political choice and better is possible.
“Cancer has led the way in changing the healthcare system for the better before, with Macmillan driving the creation of Cancer Nurse Specialists to ensure patients are treated by professionals with the right skills and expertise, and by developing ground-breaking digital assessments to ensure every person diagnosed has the best chance of receiving the care and support they need.
“It’s time to lead the way once again. Together, with politicians and partners, we can transform cancer care for a more hopeful future for people with cancer and the people who support them.”
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