Matt Norman, 34, felt a pain – doctors were quick to tell him it was very serious
A father of three who believed he had “tweaked a muscle” at work was devastated to learn it was something far more serious. Matt Norman, 34, first started suffering from rib pain in April 2025, which he attributed to muscular strain from his physically demanding job building tractors for an agricultural firm.
Two months on, he was experiencing the same pain “all the time” and left work early to visit Basildon University Hospital’s A&E for a chest x-ray and blood tests. Although doctors originally “didn’t see anything” on the x-ray, he was referred for further ultrasounds, PET and CT scans before eventually being passed on to lung specialists.
A biopsy on his lung confirmed he had incurable stage four lung cancer three weeks later, which had spread to his outer chest wall. He has since undergone chemotherapy and immunotherapy, though was forced to halt chemotherapy due to complications with his liver.
Continuing to receive infusions every three weeks, Matt’s aim is “keeping it stable” as his condition is inoperable. His focus has shifted away from fighting the illness and towards cherishing precious moments with his family – wife Yasmine, 33, and their three children, stepsons aged 13 and 12, and their five-year-old son.
Matt, from Colchester, Essex, said: “I had a physical job and kind of assumed I’d tweaked a muscle or something like that. From the day I walked into A&E and the day I got my diagnosis it was no more than three weeks.
“In that time I had four scans on my chest at least plus four or five different scans. My brain started to unfortunately start thinking the worst at that situation.
“But you try and put it out of your head until you actually know, which still happens now. You try and sort of compartmentalise it.
“When I’m given timeframes and stuff essentially they don’t know. I might have a year, I might have 10.
“Even the kids are very resilient as to what becomes the new normal for them, but they understand. When it comes to the youngest it’s a bit more difficult because obviously he doesn’t really understand.
“All he knows is I’m not well and he can’t jump on me and stuff. Other than that he just thinks it’s great I’m home all the time.”
Following his boss’s advice to seek medical attention, Matt received his diagnosis in June 2025. After a recent scan, medics were uncertain whether his cancer had spread or if he’d developed a chest infection, though they’ve since confirmed his tumours have enlarged and may have spread to his other lung.
Having taken a year away from work, he’s hoping to make a gradual return and transition into a more office-based role going forward. He now wants to embrace new experiences and build fresh memories with his family, and has launched a GoFundMe to help raise money.
Matt and Yasmine recently jetted off to Thailand for their honeymoon following their wedding in March 2026. “A family holiday is the biggest one while I’m able to and to be still sort of well enough to actually enjoy it with them,” he said.
“I am still mobile and can still do stuff. I get out of breath quickly occasionally and other things but I can still do stuff with them.
“There will come a point I won’t be able to. The family holiday is the biggest one but creating memories with them is so important.
“I’ve got more support than I know what to do with from my family”. Those wishing to contribute to Matt’s fundraiser can do so here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/making-memories-6qac7
