Lung cancer: Dungannon grandad urges others to go to GP
- Published
Lindsay McKinney was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2022
A County Tyrone grandad, who was diagnosed with lung cancer, has urged people to see their GP if they have a persistent cough, breathlessness or unexplained weight loss.
Lindsay McKinney, 67, from Dungannon, initially thought his symptoms were caused by Covid but his wife persuaded him to go to his GP.
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in Northern Ireland.
However, it is often diagnosed at a late stage when it is harder to treat.
The retired lorry driver was diagnosed in 2022.
"After the Covid cleared up, my wife and I went away for a few days and she noticed whenever we would be out walking I was short of breath and had a persistent cough which didn't seem to want to go away," he said.
Mr McKinney's wife Una encouraged him to go to his GP, but he was initially hesitant.
"Of course I said: 'It'll clear up, it'll be okay'," he added. "And it didn't."
Lindsay's wife Una encouraged him to go to a doctor about his persistent cough
After Lindsay visited his doctor, he was sent to his local hospital for a chest x-ray which revealed a shadow on his lung.
Further tests confirmed it was lung cancer.
Mr McKinney is part of Cancer Research UK's Spot Cancer Early campaign and said he could have been diagnosed quicker if he had gone to his GP earlier.
"I was like a lot of people would be and just put it down to other things," he said.
"I can remember saying 'I'm getting older and I'm not as fit', putting it down to that.
"Making excuses basically for what it could be and trying not to think about it.
"But as time went on, and of course pressure from my wife did make me go, and obviously I'm glad that I did go," he added.
Early diagnosis 'critical'
Dr Martin Kelly, a cancer consultant at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry, said spotting cancer early was "critically important".
"If we can diagnose lung cancer early, we can do more to help people with a much higher chance of being able to cure people of lung cancer so they can go ahead and live a normal life," he said.
Dr Kelly says patients shouldn't be worried about contacting their GP if they're unwell
Dr Kelly said some people may be reluctant to contact their GP or are worried about adding to the pressure on the health service.
"We're all under pressure but we're still delivering and particularly problems like lung cancer, any type of cancer, the service works well actually," he added.
"If we can get people in early, we can get them diagnosed and we can treat them so the service still works well."
'Don't be like me - go to your GP'
Lindsay has now gone through treatment and continues to be monitored by his medical team.
He said he is grateful for the support of his family and friends and is feeling positive.
He also enjoys spending time with his first granddaughter, Mia, who he said "brightens your day and gives you a lift".
"It's not over by any means, it'll never be removed as such but it's controlling it," he added.
His message to other people who have similar symptoms is simply to visit a doctor.
"I really encourage people - don't be like me and maybe sit back a wee bit longer, if you think it's there, a shortness of breath in particular and a cough, go to your GP straight away."
Lung cancer: Signs and symptoms
Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer
There are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer, but many people with the condition eventually develop symptoms including a persistent cough, coughing up blood, persistent breathlessness, unexplained tiredness and weight loss, and an ache or pain when breathing or coughing
Lung cancer is rare in people younger than 40. More than four out of 10 people diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK are aged 75 and older
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