Mom who had cough for months thought it was asthma before heartbreaking cancer diagnosis
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News and Media
Warning: This article contains discussion of cancer which some readers may find distressing.
A runner has opened up about finding out she had stage four lung cancer after noticing her times dipping and initially being diagnosed with asthma.
Vanessa Kendall from Yorkshire used to run several times a week but in the summer of 2024, she noticed she was finding running more and more difficult.
In December later that year, the 46-year-old's family all caught the flu and she then noticed how she took longer to recover than the rest of them.
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Not thinking 'much of it,' she carried on, however, in February 2025, unable to make it through a work call without suffering extreme and persistent coughing, she decided to visit the GP.
The mom-of-two was diagnosed with asthma and prescribed an inhaler which seemed to help, at least at first.
A conversation with a friend during a run in June led her to ask for a chest x-ray from the GP - the x-ray discovering something far more sinister.
Vanessa had stage four metastatic cancer.
The diagnosis came as a 'massive shock' to Vanessa.
She told Kennedy News: "I did a half marathon in October before I was diagnosed and would run every Wednesday after work with a work running club.
"In the May school holidays we did one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks with my youngest son, we did Ingleborough, so still fit and active so it was a massive, massive shock getting the diagnosis."
Stage four cancer is the most advanced stage of the disease meaning, along with the term metastatic, the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body and is no longer just present in its original location.
Vanessa's cancer had spread from her lungs to her liver, spine, lymph nodes, kidneys and brain.
Upon receiving the diagnosis, Vanessa underwent chemotherapy - a drug-based therapy used to try and control or cure the cancer.
Devastatingly, in January earlier this year, Vanessa learnt the cancer had spread even further, CT scans showing new tumors in her liver, lungs, and brain.
Vanessa says the type of lung cancer she has is 'one of the rarest types' - 'a complete freak, rare, genetic mutation'.
She's now fundraising to be able to access private treatment as her current 'treatment options are limited' given the rarity of the type of cancer she has.
The GoFundMe explains: "Having discussed the remaining options with oncologists, NHS & privately, we are now looking at the best treatment option available in the UK, an immunotherapy drug (TKI) for Vanessa which currently is not funded by the NHS for the Exon 20 mutation."
It notes her current healthcare insurance 'will not cover the cost of treatment' and so the fundraiser hopes to 'try and alleviate some of the costs and financial burden required to receive this medication'.
"Vanessa will need to have treatment every week for the first four weeks, then every other week after that, but will also need to cover the cost of bloods and scans etc," it adds. "There are also future potential opportunities for additional treatments not yet approved or available on the NHS or through private healthcare providers to become available in the fulness of time."
Vanessa reflected her diagnosis left her feeling 'totally lost and isolated' trying to process it all.
"It was hugely traumatic," she added.
However, Vanessa noted she's been 'absolutely overwhelmed' by the 'unbelievable' amount of support the fundraiser has achieved so far. You can donate to the GoFundMe here.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.