Three-and-a-half years ago, Alison Tatum was told she had 12-18 months to live, after she was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.

But thanks to treatment, Alison, is still here and cancer free.

Her oncologist has called her ‘a walking’ miracle’.

Grateful for the treatment she’s had, and keen to highlight the progress that is being made in research, Alison is backing a Cancer Research UK drive to help save more lives from lung cancer – the UK’s biggest cause of cancer death.

Alison, 55, from Islington, North London, was treated with two drugs called cisplatin and etoposide phosphate. Scientists funded by Cancer Research UK led some of the first clinical trials into these drugs.

Alison felt fit and healthy until she was diagnosed with lung cancer in July 2021.

“I’d had a bit of a cough for a while, especially in the winter months and then I developed a sore back. But other than that, I was fine. I worked in a primary school for 22 years and I was never ill,” she said.

“Then one day, my son Jack, saw something on the BBC about a woman who had had a prolonged cough and had a bad back. And it turned out she had stage four lung cancer. So he insisted I went to the doctor.”

Alison, who had smoked most of her adult life, made an appointment with her GP who said her chest was clear but referred her for an x-ray. This revealed ‘shadowing’ on her left lung. She was sent for a CT scan and within the hour she was called and told she needed urgent treatment.

“I had two large tumours on my lung. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t feel unwell at all. They did a biopsy and later told me I had small cell lung cancer.

“It wasn’t possible to remove the tumours and they wanted to check if the cancer had spread to my brain. I was sure it hadn’t but they found ‘something odd’.

“They said it was so small it was probably benign but the only way to be sure was to treat it with chemotherapy,” she said.

Alison was referred to University College Hospital (UCLH) for treatment and after three months the mass on her brain had gone.

However, the chemo proved very harsh for Alison and her regime was changed for the final three months of her treatment.

“I asked what my prognosis was and the doctor said ‘Not good’. I asked what he meant by that he said probably 12-18 months. I still didn’t feel unwell so it all seemed unreal.”

She then underwent two weeks of radiotherapy on her lungs and brain, which Alison found much tougher than the chemo.

“I really struggled through that. I felt sick, I couldn’t eat, I lost my hair and I had to self-inject steroids”, she said.

Doctors told Alison there was no cure for her cancer, but the treatment she’d had would hopefully hold the disease at bay, giving her more time.

“But that was 2021 and we’re now nearly into 2025. I’m still here, there are no signs of cancer at the moment and I feel absolutely fine,” she said.

“It has been an emotional time and I’m aware the cancer could come back. But for now, I have a positive attitude and I’m doing well.

“The treatment has been amazing. My consultant says I’m a walking miracle. I can’t quite believe it myself.

“I have six-monthly scans and apart from meds for the side effects I suffered, I’m not in any active treatment.”

Alison took voluntary redundancy from her job in a school office after she was diagnosed, and now devotes her time to her family, especially her daughter Lucy and grandson Francis, five.

And she is busy ticking off places on her bucket list.

“Simon took me to New York, which I’d always wanted to see, and I‘ve just got back from Cape Verde with my husband Mark.”

Alison sharing her story comes as new analysis by Cancer Research UK reveals how progress being made is bringing hope to thousands of families like hers.

Around 3,400 lives are saved from lung cancer in London every year, according to new analysis from Cancer Research UK. That’s around 10 people every day.*
Researchers found, since the 1970s, around 64,800 deaths have been avoided from the disease in the city** thanks to research and improvements in prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Cancer Research UK scientists have been at the forefront of these advances. More than 8 in 10 people with lung cancer who are prescribed cancer drugs in the UK, receive at least one drug that the charity has helped to develop.***
And in the last decade, it has invested over £231 million in lung cancer research. This includes the TRACERx study, which has revealed critical insights into how lung cancer evolves and spreads and developing LungVax – the world’s first vaccine designed to prevent lung cancer in people at high risk of the disease.
For Alison, more progress like this can’t come soon enough. She said: “It’s great to hear the mini victories and big wins that are being made in the fight against lung cancer. That’s down to the power of research, which is clear in the number of lives that have been saved in London.
“Sadly, not everyone survives cancer. That’s why the work Cancer Research UK does is vital to keep making new discoveries that will help beat this terrible disease.
“Sharing my story has channelled my energy into something positive that I hope will help others facing cancer. Cancer Research UK scientists are working hard to ensure more people survive and that’s something we should all get behind. Monthly donations make a huge difference to the charity’s work, allowing it to commit to long-term research projects with the potential to help save more lives.”
Smoking is the biggest cause of lung cancer in the UK. That’s why Alison is urging Londoners to help create a future free from the harms of tobacco by emailing their MP and asking them to support the Tobacco and Vapes Bill currently going through Parliament that will increase the age of sale for tobacco products.
Despite gains in understanding the disease, lung cancer survival continues to be lower than most other cancer types. Currently, only 1 in 10 people will survive for 10 years or more.
That’s in part because lung cancer symptoms can often be mistaken for less serious conditions, meaning many people are diagnosed late when treatment is less likely to be successful. As well as helping to accelerate better and kinder treatments, Cancer Research UK is backing research into novel ways of diagnosing cancer early to improve survival. This includes harnessing AI and developing blood tests that detect tumour DNA in the bloodstream.
Cancer Research UK spokesperson for London, Lynn Daly, said: “From uncovering the causes of lung cancer to pioneering drugs to treat it and campaigning for change, we’re powering progress for thousands of people affected by lung cancer – all thanks to the generosity and commitment of our supporters. But our work isn’t done.
“We want to bring about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer – no matter who they are or where they’re from. So, we’re grateful to Alison for sharing her story and helping to highlight why we must go further and faster.
“This Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we hope people will do what they can to show their support – whether that’s backing our Smokefree UK campaign or donating to help our scientists make the next big breakthrough.”
To support life-saving research, donate monthly to Cancer Research UK at cruk.org/donate