The Treherbert resident was invited to take part in a new Lung Health Check pilot launched by CTM University Health Board (UHB) in late 2023.

As someone who started smoking at the age of 11 years old - first with cigarettes and later rolling his own tobacco – Phil, 65, had smoked for most of his life. “I’d been smoking since I was a lad,” he said. “I had no symptoms and felt fine, so I wouldn’t have thought to go to the doctor. Life was normal as far as I was concerned.”

The pilot project - in collaboration with the National Strategic Clinical Network for Cancer aims to detect lung conditions early—before symptoms appear—giving people the best chance of successful treatment.

Phil attended his appointment without hesitation.

When Phil and his wife Wendy received the diagnosis, they feared the worst. But thanks to the early detection, doctors were able to act quickly.

Phil underwent surgery to remove a third of his lung, followed by chemotherapy after tests revealed a cancerous lymph gland. During his recovery, he also received support from Tenovus Cancer Care, whose benefits advisor, Victoria, helped ease the financial strain.

Now smoke-free and on the road to recovery, Phil has nothing but praise for the NHS staff who cared for him. “If I’d missed that scan and waited six months, it would have been too late to operate,” he said. “I’ve given up smoking and saved my life — and a good bit of money too!”