But when it came to treating her lung cancer shortly after, it was a whole different story, taking three months just to get a diagnosis.

Now, Lung Foundation Australia is calling on the federal government to fund 100 specialist lung cancer nurses across the country to help people like Ms Tyler.

Three times more Australians die of lung cancer than prostate or breast cancer, with the latter two cancers having between 50 and 400 specialist nurses respectively.

The foundation's support nurse, Louise Underhill, says lifting the number of lung cancer nurses from 12 to 100 by 2030 would lead to much better patient outcomes.

To make it worse for Ms Tyler, she was still experiencing pain in her breast despite being declared cancer free in 2017, with a scan revealing blood clots in her lungs.

But it was only months later a specialist told her the scan had also picked up a lesion in her lungs, with a biopsy later confirming it was cancer.

Ms Tyler, 55, feels there's a stigma around lung cancer and says one of the first things she was asked was if she smoked - only once.

"With breast cancer, they're lining up to help you," she told AAP.

"There's no stigma, people just think it's not your fault."

But as a lung cancer patient, she says it's completely different and she's had to fearlessly advocate for herself.

"Always trust your own judgement, you know your body better than anyone, and don't be afraid to challenge specialists," she said.

Ms Underhill believes if Ms Tyler had a nurse, she may have been seen a better outcome, but says every individual is different.

She says nurses act as advocates, translators and mediums for their patients.

"A lot of it's about empowerment and making them feel comfortable," Ms Underhill said.

But sometimes it's also about convincing the patient just to take on treatment, with the stigma often turning patients away from help.

An independent study commissioned by Lung Foundation Australia found patients in the UK were 34 per cent more likely to seek treatment when they had access to a lung cancer nurse.

For Ms Tyler, her advice to other patients was simple: "Don't give up."

Australian Associated Press