'I bought my first home then was told I have cancer'

A 28-year-old woman has described the "absolutely awful" moment she was diagnosed with terminal cancer just months after getting engaged and buying her first house.

Laura Lonergan fell ill while on holiday in South Africa in January 2024, and remembers a sudden loss of appetite, breathlessness, and weight loss.

"I'd been the same weight for about 10 years so I instantly knew something was wrong," she said.

Doctors initially put her symptoms down to a viral infection but after several scans she was diagnosed with stage three lung cancer.

Ms Lonergan, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, said the results were "a massive shock" because she and her fiancé Will Rotheram were both "really fit, and had never smoked".

Months after surgery to remove a tumour in the April, she got even more bad news.

"I was told the cancer had spread and that I'd be referred to The Christie to see a specialist," Ms Lonergan continued.

She is now in the hands of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, in Manchester, described as one of Europe's leading cancer centres.

She went on to have further surgery to remove a significant part of her lungs but in December the diagnosis worsened again.

"They told me it was Stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer, and that it was now in my neck and the lymph nodes around my chest area," Laura said.

The cancer was rare, incurable, and Laura was given less than 10 years to live.

"It was devastating to find out," her partner said.

"We got the first diagnosis on the Monday and then got the keys to our house on the Friday."

Ms Lonergan said the whole experience had been "terrifying".

"When you hear the words cancer, the first thing you think is that you're going to die; so it was absolutely awful."

However, the running enthusiasts also wanted to use the difficult news for good and will take part in fundraiser for The Christie later as a sign of appreciation for the treatment they have received.

Mr Rotheram, who completed the Manchester Marathon in April, will join 14 friends on a monster 100 km (61 miles) Ultra Challenge in the Peak District.

Ms Lonergan, alongside friends and family, will run with them for the first 10 miles.

"It's an unbelievably hard challenge," said Mr Rotheram, who ran a 100k back in 2023.

"I did it with a couple of friends and said I'd never do it again because it was the hardest thing I've ever done. You're awake for well over 24 hours and so you get sleep deprived."

Ms Lonergan recalled running the Manchester half marathon in October, completely unaware she had a collapsed lung.

"I'd be training for months but found it very difficult, and thought it was because I wasn't fit enough," she said.

"I was having panic attacks and my airway was blocked from the tumour, so I wasn't getting any oxygen."

She still finished the race in just over two hours.

But above all the pair said the main goal is "to raise awareness".

"If you do feel that something isn't right in your body, you do need to push it with your doctors so you are heard," Mr Rotheram said.

So far they have raised more than £26,000 for The Christie.

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