Lisa Gillies, 53, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in December 2023 after complaining of dizziness and undergoing a CT scan, which detected a shadow on her lung
A mum who initially put her rib pain and dizzy spells down to the exhausting demands of 60-hour working weeks was left stunned when she was diagnosed with lung cancer and found to have 11 tumours in her brain. Lisa Gillies, 53, was given the devastating news that she had stage four lung cancer, which had spread to her brain due to a genetic EGFR mutation typically seen in non-smokers, in December 2023.
She had been having regular blood tests and monitoring for her depleted iron levels before going back to her GP complaining of dizziness. A subsequent CT scan at Bournemouth Hospital revealed a shadow on her lung, while a biopsy confirmed the heartbreaking diagnosis.
Lisa started an oral treatment straight away which has managed to shrink the main tumour in her lungs and eradicate the metastases in her brain. Unfortunately, this treatment can become less effective over time, and Lisa and her daughter, Taylor, 30, are now raising funds for private specialised treatment.
Lisa, a former cleaner from Salisbury, recalled: “I remember just screaming my daughter’s name when I got the diagnosis – I stayed in bed for two days. But after that I picked myself up.
“I was really healthy. I worked sixty hours a week cleaning – still working for six months after the diagnosis. As much as it’s not lucky, I was luckier in the fact that the type I’ve got there is treatment for.
“It can work really well for some and not for others. I was one of the people that thought you could only get lung cancer if you smoke.
“It makes you re-evaluate your life. Life is short and you have to enjoy it.”
Before the Covid pandemic, Lisa had been complaining of sinus issues and rib pain, but doctors put it down to her demanding work schedule – she was clocking up to 60 hours a week as a cleaner at the time.
She said: “It was dismissed because of the work I do, or where I wear my bra and that it was likely just irritating the area I was experiencing discomfort. I kept having blood tests because my iron was low – this was a cycle for two years and nothing else was happening.”
After a week of wearing a heart monitor, Lisa was told she had something wrong with her heart, but that it was “nothing major.” She added: “I went in again as I had a couple of dizzy spells and the doctor asked to listen to my heart.
“I had a phone call saying they think there’s something with my heart, but nothing major. I was sent to Bournemouth for a CT scan, and I had a phone call from a nurse saying they found a shadow on my lung but again, they didn’t think it was anything sinister.
“They then asked me to come in for a biopsy, and I was still feeling fine. I was sent for a PET scan and the next meeting I was told I had 11 brain tumours and stage four lung cancer.
“I took my dad with me, and we hadn’t reconnected very long ago, we hadn’t spoken for years. I remember just screaming my daughter’s name saying I can’t leave her.
“People say they’re so sorry all the time – there’s nothing I can do about it. I just have to enjoy my life – I’m pretty strong and resilient.”
So far, Lisa’s treatment has shown positive results, with the tumours in her brain vanishing after three months, although the impact may reduce over time.
She is now looking into private treatment, which would see her undergo a lung wedge resection procedure.
She said: “In America it’s quite common but my oncologist has said it’s not common yet on the NHS because of funding. Depending on where your tumour is you either have a wedge resection or the whole lung removed – mine would be the wedge so I’d still be left with part of my lung.
“If they remove the main tumour they can then see if there’s any other mutations and take away the burden of the main tumour. They believe that it can extend your life.
“Because I was a cleaner and I’ve been on my own for a long time I didn’t have private healthcare. When I had my consultation, the surgeon has said I could have the surgery as soon as I have the money.”
The fundraising campaign, set up by her daughter Taylor, has already raised nearly £4,000 towards a £10,000 target.
You can support Lisa here.