A British woman from Plymouth is facing a terrifying health crisis after being stranded in Dubai with stage three lung cancer, missing her vital chemotherapy treatment scheduled for Friday. Linzi Stone, 47, was diagnosed just weeks ago with a rare form of EGFR-positive lung cancer and is now trapped due to flight cancellations following conflict in the Gulf region linked to the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Diagnosis and Travel Plans Disrupted
Linzi, a non-smoker, received her diagnosis at the beginning of February and had planned a short break in Dubai with her husband Paul, 54, and their 11-year-old daughter Summer before starting chemotherapy. Her doctor had approved the trip, but the family's return flights were cancelled as tensions escalated, leaving them stuck in a hotel on The Palm near Jebel Ali Port.
Health Deterioration and Anxiety
"I am getting chest pains from the stress," Linzi said. "It's mostly anxiety thinking the cancer is getting worse without treatment. I feel like my health is getting worse. For me it is really stressful and if something happens to me or I go downhill, what do we do? I just want to get home and start my chemotherapy. And my life actually does depend on it."
She has had no treatment yet and is uncertain if she will return in time for her first scheduled session, heightening fears that her condition could deteriorate rapidly without medical intervention.
Conflict and Safety Concerns
The family's hotel was affected by debris from an intercepted missile, adding to their distress. "There was a drone intercepted above the hotel on Saturday, which was scary," Linzi recounted. "Saturday night was very turbulent but it has been quiet since. Some friends of ours moved from the hotel we are in to a different area and they received new alerts on their phones to take cover."
Flight Uncertainty and Family Strain
A Virgin Airways flight was booked for Wednesday, but Linzi expressed doubts about its departure. "At the moment Virgin says our flight is still going ahead. But I'm not sure if it will be going," she said.
Husband Paul shared the family's anguish: "It’s frustrating. My wife is obviously desperate to get home and start her chemotherapy, and panicking that every day she misses the chemo things are going to get worse. So it’s not a good place to be. We haven’t had a lot of sleep. There are a lot of fighter jets going across the skies and drones being shot down. That was quite intense, and when you have a young family, they are panicking a bit to say the least."
He emphasized the added stress on his wife: "Obviously, when you have bombs going off, she does get frightened. For my wife, with everything she’s been going through already, this is an issue she doesn't really need in any way, shape or form."
The situation highlights the severe impact of geopolitical conflicts on individuals with critical medical needs, as Linzi's health hangs in the balance while she awaits a way home to begin life-saving treatment.
