A lung cancer patient from Onchan has shared her message in a UK campaign that aims to improve conversations around the condition.

Mother-of-two Heather Christian is one of the faces behind Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation’s (RCLCF) new campaign called ’Follow my Lead’.

Mrs Christian and fellow sufferers told the charity the unhelpful things people have said to them on finding out they have lung cancer.

A poem was created by the charity and comedian John Ryan using these sayings, such as ’I knew someone who had lung cancer. They’re dead.’ and ’Did you smoke?’.

The campaign launched this month to coincide with Lung Cancer Awareness month.

It includes helpful advice on how to speak to someone who is living with the disease.

About 130 people are diagnosed with lung cancer every day in the UK.

Mrs Christian was diagnosed with ’incurable’ lung cancer in 2016 and was told she had three to nine months to live. Going to the doctor about her sore back, it was later discovered that she had cancer that had spread from her lungs and was putting extreme pressure on her spine.

’I was surprised when they told me,’ she said. ’I never smoked, I didn’t have any history of lung cancer in the family and as far as I know I hadn’t been exposed to substances like asbestos.’

Despite predictions three years ago, she has been living her life the best way she can.

One thing she finds strange is when people treat her as though she has ’angelic qualities’.

’I’m as wicked as I ever was!’ she said. ’How I like people to talk to me is the same as they did before.’

Mrs Christian said she’s ’very lucky’ to be surrounded by a supportive family and friends, many of whom have carried out fundraisers for the island’s newly-launched branch of RCLCF in Onchan.

Supporting this charity herself, she wants ’to give reassurance to other people’. ’I think about the things I’ve been able to do since I was told I had three to nine months, the memories and travelling I have done. I’m really grateful for that.’

A public display about lung cancer will be held at Ramsey town hall from Monday, November 25.

See www.roycastle.org/campaigns/follow-my-lead/