Gillian's dizzy spells led to a lung cancer diagnosis at 40 | #cancer | #podcast

Just days after her milestone 40th birthday, Gillian Ryan’s life changed forever. What began as a few dizzy spells at work ended with her sitting in a hospital's emergency room, hearing the words she never expected: “You have lung cancer.” Initially told it might be anxiety, Gillian was encouraged by a persistent nurse to stay for more tests. A nodule appeared on her lung — thought at first to be a harmless scar. She was reassured she didn’t fit the “lung cancer criteria.” But days after her 40th birthday, Gillian received the shocking diagnosis that would alter her life. Due to COVID restrictions, she faced the news alone, without her family by her side. What followed was surgery, long days of recovery, and the harsh reality that while she was told she was “cured,” her journey was only just beginning. Regular scans, scanxiety, and the emotional weight of survivorship became part of her new reality. 👉 Watch Part 1 of Gillian’s story to see how she navigated shock, isolation, and fear — and began finding her strength as a patient advocate determined to change the conversation around lung cancer. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and Early Symptoms 00:00:00 Hospital Visit and Initial Tests 00:00:00 The Shocking Diagnosis 00:00:00 Facing the Reality Alone Patient Voices Podcast shares real stories, insights, and hope from people living with lung cancer, alongside caregivers and experts. This first series is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors: Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Oncogene Cancer Research retains full editorial control over all content. We also do not endorse specific treatments nor provide medical advice. Questions and concerns should be raised with individual care teams. #cancer #lungcancer #surgery #LungCancer #EGFR #CancerStories #PatientVoices #Scanxiety #CancerAwareness ============================================= 🔬 Empowering Patients. Championing Advocacy. Advancing Research. We’re dedicated to improving outcomes for people with oncogene-driven lung cancer through education, support, advocacy and cutting-edge research. 🌐 Learn More: www.oncogeneresearch.org 📲 Let’s Connect! 📸 Instagram: / oncogenecancerresearch 🎵 TikTok: / oncogenecance. . 🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/OncogeneCancer 🌎 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/oncogenecanc... 💼 LinkedIn: / oncogene-cancer-research 💙 Need Support? If you or a loved one is living with lung cancer, join our private community for connection and resources: 🔗 Join Here: / oncogenecancerresearchprivatecommunity 💡 Fuel the Future of Research Your support helps advance research for oncogene-driven lung cancer. Donate today: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted... ❤️ Make a Difference #LungCancer #CancerResearch #mutations #PatientAdvocacy Patient Stories | cancer survivor | stage 4 | advocacy