He thought he had a bad chest infection - but a devastating call on his birthday changed everything

A man who thought he had a bad chest infection has spoken of the moment his life was turned upside down - after he received a devastating call on his birthday.

Owen McGrath, 71, said he had been feeling unwell but didn't think much of it. But when he was offered an NHS lung health check for free, he decided to take up the offer.

He said he turned up to a mobile unit, where he was given a quick scan there and then. But he was 'shocked' when doctors called back on his birthday to deliver some unexpected news, reports the Liverpool Echo.

READ MORE: 'My driving instructor traumatised me... I still worry I will bump into him'

READ MORE: Stroke victim who became isolated in Covid pandemic developed a sick interest

Owen is sharing his journey as part of lung cancer awareness month as he urges people not to ignore the free check if they are offered one. The ex-smoker eventually had treatment at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital in Broadgreen to reduce the size of tumour and remove it through surgery.

Now he has been given the all-clear as he said: "I’m just so glad I went for the check. I didn’t expect it to show anything at all, but I later got a call to say they had found something.

"It was a shock, but it meant I was then given more in-depth scans and tests before they confirmed that it was cancer. They told me on my birthday but, to be honest, I was just glad they had caught it."

The Targeted Lung Health Checks, now running in Liverpool, St Helens, South Sefton, Halton and Knowsley can spot cancer in its earliest stages, often before any symptoms are noticed, but even though Owen’s cancer was well developed he had not experienced the usual signs of lung cancer.

The project, now