George Dudnik was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in November 2024, and to add to the devastating news, he was also told that chemotherapy was not an option for him which he said made the diagnosis feel more like a “death sentence”
Nobody thinks they will get cancer, but with one in two people developing it in their lifetimes, it’s frighteningly more likely than we would like to think. But it was a total shock for George Dudnik to discover that he had lung cancer last year.
The 36-year-old, originally from Latvia, cared about his health and fitness – he was vegan and taught yoga classes alongside his job at Transport for London (TfL). He moved to the UK back in 2008 to study dance, so he had always been active; in fact, he had been told he was too “young and healthy” to develop such a disease.
George was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in November 2024, and to add to the devastating news, he was also told that chemotherapy was not an option for him which he said made the diagnosis feel more like a “death sentence”.
Symptoms
His first symptom appeared in December 2023, and although it did worry him, he and his doctors initially brushed it off. Speaking to BristolLive, George said: “I woke up around 3am with a swollen face, especially behind my ears. It reminded me of mumps, but I had mumps as a child, so I knew it shouldn’t be possible to get them again.”
Concerned, he contacted the 111 service and was directed to an urgent NHS appointment. The physician assessed him without conducting tests, quickly diagnosing him with mumps and advising him to rest at home and take paracetamol. Although the NHS does acknowledge face and neck swelling as a potential indication of lung cancer, they note it’s less frequent compared to other primary symptoms such as persistent coughs, coughing up blood, pain while breathing and continuous breathlessness.
READ MORE: James Blunt hits back at Paddy McGuinness after comparing his gigs to ‘clinical depression’READ MORE: Wicked star Ariana Grande hits back at online trolls with savage swipe at Dalton Gomez
More symptoms started to develop in March of last year, although he continued to shrug them off. He blamed the sharp pains in his right calf muscle on his vigorous cycling or exercise routines. Even though the pains persisted, he carried on with life. However, one day, he noticed swelling in his foot and ankle that would last for days, and soon after, the pains in his leg progressively worsened.
On May 29, another symptom appeared, which frightened him and indicated that something wasn’t right. He said: “I woke up with a strange bubbling sound coming from my throat. When I took my morning shower, I coughed up blood. That same morning, I started work from home, but I developed a severe fever, and every breath became painful. The pain intensified until I collapsed on the floor, struggling to breathe.”
George was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, where he described experiencing “unbearable” pain to the extent that he had to “scream” due to the sheer agony experienced while breathing.
Diagnosis
A scan and additional examinations revealed the presence of blood clots within George’s lungs, legs, and arms. George said his doctors were initially “puzzled” by them, and suggested that it could have been his plant-based diet that caused the problem. He explained: “They initially ruled out cancer, saying I was ‘too young and healthy’ for it to be a likely cause. They were convinced it had something to do with my job stress or my diet.”
In October last year, George undertook a CT scan, which revealed several spots in his right lung, and after receiving surgery a month later, the devastating diagnosis was confirmed. George’s story took a more heartbreaking turn when doctors said his lung cancer was stage four ROS1-positive – a rare and aggressive form of cancer which is incurable.
“At that moment, it was like I was underwater,” he said, “I could see her talking, but her voice faded into the distance. Everything went quiet. My body just went numb. I felt like I was glued to the chair. I couldn’t move, not even look at my partner.”
George’s doctors shared with him that there was nothing they could do to stop it, and no matter his actions, his life would be cut short, and we would die from this. George said the diagnosis felt like a “countdown timer had been activated” that was “ticking away the final minutes” of his life. He added: “I was still young. I still had so much to do. But suddenly, it felt like my time was up.”
Treatment
Even though the cancer could not be stopped, George was still going to receive chemotherapy, and this was set to begin a few weeks later in December. However, a few days before his treatment was set to begin, it was discovered that the ROS1 had mutated, which signified the cancer’s aggression and propensity for spreading, including to the brain and bones. As a result, he was informed that chemotherapy wouldn’t be viable for him.
Instead, he began taking Entrectinib, a targeted therapy aimed at stalling his lung cancer and preventing further complications. However, the target is disease management rather than a cure. George will continue with this medication for the rest of his life, even though it won’t stop the cancer. It is not known exactly how long George has left, but even though his cancer is serious, George said he would do “everything in his power” to fight it.
GoFundMe
The 36-year-old is pushing ahead with his NHS treatment, but he is also looking into some alternative therapies to help his mental wellbeing and resilience. He hopes that this will aid his physical health as he continues through this period. He set up a GoFundMe page to help cover these extra costs and so far has amassed over £7,000.
Developed by Dr Joe Dispenza, George will use the money for homoeopathy and alternative therapies, quality supplements and nutritional support, sauna sessions, and detox treatments. The contributions will also support meditation retreats, healing workshops, adherence to a nutrient-rich vegan diet, and meditation and healing practices.
His optimism shines through on his fundraising page where he says: “I truly believe in self-healing, energy work, and the power of the human spirit. While cancer treatment in the UK is free, everything else I do to support my healing is not.”
In February this year, George was given some positive news, as something appeared to be working as his cancer had shown some signs of reduction. The former dancer says the development will have come from his synergistic approach combining precision-targeted therapy, alternative medicine, and a mindful focus on nutrition. Even though George knows that he will not fully recover from his cancer, he continues to have a positive outlook going forward and hopes his journey can help others dealing with a diagnosis.
He said: “I want people to see that it’s ok to have cancer. It’s not a shameful thing. It’s not an automatic death sentence. It’s not a countdown timer. Yes, I know that I might not win. But I also know this – none of us know how long we have. People die from accidents, other illnesses, even random circumstances. Cancer doesn’t mean I’ll live less than anyone else. So I choose to live like I have another 40 years ahead of me.” You can make a donation to George’s GoFundMe page here
READ MORE: ‘Really beautiful’ £240 gold watch gets price slashed by a mega 60% in Amazon spring sale