Mum takes lung cancer fight from hospital bed to Downing St

Jules Fielder, a 41-year-old mother diagnosed with stage four double lung cancer in 2021, has achieved a significant victory in her campaign to raise awareness of lung cancer symptoms. Following her diagnosis, Fielder advocated for common symptoms to be displayed near cough medicine, leading to symptom cards appearing in 101 Boots stores, with a full rollout across all stores by March 16, 2026. This initiative is designed to encourage earlier detection of the disease.

Fielder's campaign has gained national attention, securing meetings with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Health Secretary Wes Streeting. During her meeting with Starmer, he shared that his own brother died of lung cancer and praised Fielder for showing that individuals can live well with the disease, emphasizing the importance of early detection. Streeting has committed to including lung cancer in his 2026 National Cancer Plan, aiming to save lives by 2035 and implementing targeted screening by 2030.

Diagnosed in 2021, Fielder's symptoms were initially misattributed to common ailments like sciatica and tennis elbow before a neck lump led to her diagnosis. Despite facing a grim prognosis and treatment changes, including the cancer progressing to small cell lung cancer, she remains determined. Inspired by Dame Deborah James, Fielder continues to log her journey on Instagram, advocating for increased visibility of lung cancer symptoms, particularly for younger individuals and non-smokers.