Mum with stage 4 cancer warns 'do not fall for biggest lie' she believed about illness

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A mum with stage 4 lung cancer has shared the biggest misconception about the disease she believed before she was diagnosed.

The woman, who did not share her name, shared her story on the TikTok channel Young Lung Cancer Is A Thing as she approached the anniversary of her diagnosis. She confessed that she had previously believed non-smokers were not at risk. Now, as a non-smoker herself, she knows this is not true.

In her video, she said: "One of the biggest lies I was taught is, if you don't smoke cigarettes, you won't get lung cancer. Well, I am a non-smoker, and in November of 2023 I was diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer."

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She continued: "I have a husband and three young kids – nine, six and three – and to say that it has rocked our world and turned our life upside down would be a complete understatement. It's been a gruelling several months, with different treatments – radiation, surgery.

"I am finally able to stop treading water under the weight of this diagnosis and can come up for air and see what's happening in the world around me, and I'm astonished to see so many other young people who also have this diagnosis."

As she nears the one-year mark since her diagnosis, she said she now wants to start turning her experience into advocacy. She concluded: "I'm here to reiterate that anybody who has lungs is at risk of getting lung cancer."

The US' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that between 10 and 20% of lung cancers occur in individuals who have never smoked or those who have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. This translates to approximately 20,000 to 40,000 diagnoses each year.

The NHS lists the primary symptoms of lung cancer as: a persistent cough lasting more than three weeks; a long-standing cough that worsens; recurring chest infections; coughing up blood; pain or discomfort when breathing or coughing; constant breathlessness; ongoing fatigue or lack of energy; and unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite.

Less common symptoms can also include: changes in the appearance of your fingers, such as becoming more curved or their ends enlarging (known as finger clubbing); difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or pain when swallowing; wheezing; a hoarse voice; swelling of your face or neck; persistent chest or shoulder pain.

The health service advises you to consult your GP if you experience any symptoms of lung cancer, including the less common ones.

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