When Liz Clark, 69, from Cults, Aberdeen, first developed a persistent cough in 2013, she thought little of it.
The grandmother of four was a busy lecturer at the time and just assumed it was an annoying lingering infection.
But when two courses of antibiotics failed to make a difference, she went back to her GP practice - a decision that would ultimately save her life.
A chest x-ray revealed an ominous mass in her right lung.
"Hearing I had a suspected tumour was like being kicked in the stomach," Liz recalls. "l had no other symptoms, so I never thought that it could be as serious as cancer.
The tests confirmed the worst, though: Liz had lung cancer.
Yet, because of the size and placement of the tumour, there was a hopeful - but drastic - treatment option: an operation to remove her right lung.
"The surgery was major and it took a while to recover, including having to retire early," Liz says.
"But the cancer hadn't spread, and I didn't need any subsequent treatment, allowing me to focus on recovery."
After several years of monitoring and a gradual return to good health, Liz was given the all-clear and discharged from her clinical team in 2019. Today, she is determined to live life to the fullest.
"Receiving a cancer diagnosis and going through surgery was a big thing for me to deal with," she says. "But I now feel like I've come out the other side."
Liz's experience backs up the aims of the Scottish Government's 'Be The Early Bird' campaign, a national initiative designed to raise awareness of the importance of spotting symptoms quickly - especially for people over 40 - and getting them checked out at their GP practice.
Things to look out for include a new, persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks, unexplained bleeding, unusual lumps, unexplained weight loss, or any other unusual, persistent changes that aren't normal for you.
"If you're worried, my advice would be to get checked," she urges. "It's likely to be nothing, but if it is something, there's more that can be done if it's found early.
"I'm no longer even in remission; I'm essentially cured, and that is a huge thing."
Cancer survival rates have never been higher in the UK - in large part due to early detection.
The old adage, 'What you don't know can't hurt you,' couldn't be further from the truth when it comes to health.
That's why Liz is speaking out to help reduce the stigma and fear that often prevent people from seeking medical help.
It's always better to know what you're dealing with and have access to options and support, rather than suffering alone with your worst fears.
Liz wants to encourage everyone to listen to their bodies and act quickly when something doesn't feel right.
She now spends her time cherishing her grandchildren and embracing the early retirement that, while unplanned, she's grateful to be around to savour.
"I've been given a second chance at life, thanks to my cancer being found when it was."
Liz's story is a powerful reminder: don't wait and see; be an early bird, get checked, and give yourself the best possible shot at enjoying a long and healthy life.
Unusual, persistent symptoms? Your GP practice wants to know. For more information, visit getcheckedearly.org