A former nurse who spent her career helping people with additional needs access cancer care has been diagnosed with lung cancer just weeks after retiring.
Julie Colville, 70, from Withington, Greater Manchester, received the lung cancer diagnosis after developing a persistent cough—a sign that Cancer Research UK says can easily be overlooked.
Ms Colville is now involved in a £1.3 million project aimed at boosting early detection of lung cancer among people living with severe mental illness and intellectual disabilities.
“I’ve faced cancer myself, and I know how crucial it is that no one misses a life-saving opportunity,” she said.
“I hope this work will level the playing field for people who can’t access health checks as readily as the general population.”
During her own weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, she reflected on how difficult cancer treatment can be for her former patients, especially when they lack consistent support networks. “They often don’t have friends or family to help, and care isn’t always tailored to those with complex needs,” she added.
Cancer Research UK notes that individuals with severe mental illness or intellectual disabilities have a higher mortality from lung cancer—the UK’s leading cancer killer—than those without these conditions. The reasons are multifaceted, Ms Colville explained, including treatment priorities that may not surface for people facing mental health challenges.
The £1.3 million effort is led by Dr. Lorna McWilliams of the University of Manchester. Her team will collaborate directly with people affected by mental illness and intellectual disabilities, along with carers, clinicians, and policymakers, to devise practical, real-world solutions.
Proposed approaches include enhanced support to help individuals make informed screening choices and strategies to lessen anxiety surrounding investigations and treatment.
Dr. McWilliams said the project’s goal is to have co-designed interventions ready for nationwide deployment by its conclusion.
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