Julie Kelly, 62, from Scarborough, is calling for greater awareness and improved diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer after her husband Sean, a fit and active 59-year-old marathon runner, died just nine months after being diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Sean, who represented England in races and raised over £20,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust, was diagnosed in February 2025 after experiencing breathing difficulties while running.
A Sudden Diagnosis
Sean, who had no prior health issues and was described by Julie as "fit as a fiddle," began struggling to breathe during runs. After a holiday in Thailand, he saw his GP in January 2025. Initial X-rays showed perfect observations, but a follow-up CT scan in early February revealed lung cancer. The couple were in complete disbelief. "We just thought, 'They've got it wrong. It can't possibly be. Look at him'," Julie recalled.
By the end of February, Sean was diagnosed with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer, with lesions in his kidneys and liver, and concerns about his pelvis. Doctors gave a prognosis of 10 to 12 months with treatment. According to Cancer Research UK, SCLC accounts for around 15-20% of all lung cancers.
Treatment and Advocacy
Sean began chemotherapy and immunotherapy, but when the cancer spread to his brain, he continued with chemotherapy alone. Despite the grueling treatment, he found purpose in supporting the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, taking on their "walk 30 miles in April" challenge and raising over £4,000 by walking 60 miles in 15 days. In June 2025, he was invited to 10 Downing Street to speak about lung cancer screening, calling it "one of the saddest and most proud moments of (his) life."
Julie is now determined to continue his legacy. "We want more to be done around this," she said. "He was a 59-year-old elite athlete and he gets struck down by this. What it tells you is it can happen to anybody, and I think that's the message."
Final Months and Legacy
After his fourth round of chemotherapy, Sean was in excruciating pain, and the couple decided to stop treatment. He started radiotherapy in July 2025. On his birthday in October, he watched the Scarborough 10k from his wheelchair, cheering every runner. He entered Saint Catherine's Hospice on October 20 and died on November 14, surrounded by loved ones.
Julie describes grief as "an ever-changing process" and finds comfort in staying busy with work, fitness, and time with family and grandchildren. In Sean's memory, she completed the London Landmarks Half Marathon earlier this year.
Julie hopes sharing Sean's story will raise awareness of SCLC and the importance of research and screening. In June, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommended serplulimab with carboplatin and etoposide for untreated extensive-stage SCLC, a treatment that could benefit around 1,150 people in England. Serplulimab is the first anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody recommended by Nice for this condition.
Julie's advice to others facing grief: "There's no script and there's no planning, and the one thing I've learned is not to think too much and just let (the grieving process) happen. I just want to keep his legacy going because he was all about helping other people."
