A somber mood has descended upon women’s cricket with the news that former England player Susie Wilson-Rowe is courageously facing a rare, advanced diagnosis of stage four lung cancer. The 38-year-old’s battle is with Exon 20 non-small cell lung cancer, which has unfortunately metastasized to her spine and lymph nodes. Wilson-Rowe, who has 23 T20 international appearances for England to her name, is speaking out to raise critical awareness about the need for early detection and to encourage everyone to pay close attention to their bodies.
Her health concerns emerged earlier this year while she was on maternity leave. Wilson-Rowe endured months of severe pain around her ribs and scapula, making even the simplest of actions like lifting her baby, coughing, sneezing, or breathing incredibly difficult. Initially misdiagnosed as a muscle strain, Wilson-Rowe’s determination to seek further medical advice led to the detection of a tumor in her left lung. The subsequent confirmation of the cancer’s spread was a devastating blow.
Sharing her experience, Wilson-Rowe urged vigilance: “Early detection can make all the difference. Listen to your body and push for answers when something doesn’t feel right.” Her distinguished cricketing career, particularly with Kent, saw her achieve significant success, including multiple championship titles. She also represented England internationally and played in the inaugural season of The Hundred.
Wilson-Rowe is presently undergoing intensive chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and initial reports indicate a positive response to the treatment, underscoring her resilience. Kent Cricket has initiated a fundraising campaign to aid her treatment and ongoing care, with a portion of the contributions designated for the Exon 20 Group, a charity dedicated to researching this specific lung cancer variant. A fundraising event is also scheduled to further assist her.