Lung cancer group helps woman, 35, recover

A 35-year-old woman who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2023 said attending a support group helped her recover from a "very traumatic and upsetting time".

Rachel Bell, from Lincoln, added: "It made a whole lot of difference to be around people who totally understood what I was going through."

Breath of Hope was started by United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (ULTH) in 2024 for anyone affected by lung cancer and their family and friends.

Barbara Bambro, Lung Cancer Care Coordinator, who help to launch the group, said the meetings were an "enormous success".

Ms Bell, who attends the group with her mother, said the group helped her after she found out she had the condition and sharing her "first-hand knowledge" with others was "rewarding".

John, from Heighington, said he felt "a bit abandoned" after he was told he had cancer in 2020, but the group helped him connect with other people with the condition.

His wife Sandra said families also shared their experiences, "we all help each other with tips on how to cope with the illness," she added.

Sarah Civello, Macmillan lung cancer clinical nurse specialist, said guest speakers shared knowledge on a range of subjects.

"We often discuss treatment side effects, healthy eating, exercise and diet, and the challenges of living with cancer and beyond", she added.

The meetings are held every three months on Wednesdays in Jubilee Hall in Heighington, Lincolnshire.

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.