Lung Cancer, Thoracic Oncology

lung cancer :: Article Creator

Never Smoked, Still Diagnosed: A Stage 4 Lung Cancer Journey

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Meet Ruth McClellan. Diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in July 2020, Ruth's diagnosis came after a routine checkup and an unexpected cough. Having suffered from bronchitis her entire life, she didn't think much of the persistent cough until it wouldn't go away.

"I had a chest x-ray, which showed a spot in my left lobe," Ruth recalls. "Then, I had a CAT scan, which showed a mass. A PET scan showed that I had cancer in my lung and in my skeletal system."

Ruth's diagnosis was devastating, but it was only the beginning of her fight. In 2021, she had a brain lesion radiated, and she continues to monitor a spot where necrotic tissue is appearing, watching closely to ensure it doesn't reoccur.

When most people hear "lung cancer," they often assume it's due to a heavy smoking history. But Ruth challenges that assumption.

"You know, the first thing people ask when you tell them you have lung cancer is, 'Are you a smoker?'" she says. "The important thing for everyone to realize is that anybody with lungs can get lung cancer—and they don't deserve it."

Ruth's fight became even harder during the pandemic, but support from others helped her push forward. She reached out to the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer Research and received a "phone buddy"—someone who understood her struggle.

"I remember he called me while I was parked in the Lowe's Foods parking lot. We spoke for hours, and he gave me my first sense of hope," Ruth says.

That sense of connection led Ruth to Live Lung, an organization that started a lung cancer support group in Wilmington due to Ruth's own desperate need for people to talk to.

"I'm really grateful for the help and guidance I've received from Live Lung," Ruth says. "It's given me a community I can rely on."

Ruth's journey also took her to a Livestrong event focused on exercise, where she realized just how much life she still had in her.

"A friend of mine asked, 'Have you ever thought about playing pickleball?' And I said, 'No, but I'll give it a shot. I love anything with a bat and a ball.' So we went to the House of Pickleball, took a lesson—and I was hooked!"

Today, Ruth is an avid pickleball player, and it's become a vital part of her recovery.

"I suffer from chronic fatigue every day, but when I get out on that court and see friendly faces smiling back at me, my adrenaline kicks in, and I know I'm going to have a good day. It makes my day worthwhile," she says.

Ruth's message to others is clear: get screened for lung cancer.

"I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for early screening and the new targeted drugs that are being developed every day," she says. "Survivorship is being extended, and I try to maintain a positive attitude and do the best I can for myself every day."

For those in need of support, Ruth invites anyone who needs a shoulder to lean on to join Live Lung's local support group, which meets every first Thursday of the month.

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DC Ranks 4th For Lung Cancer Screening, Report Finds

A recent report by the American Lung Association found lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in D.C. And across the country. But there are positive trends.

A recent report by the American Lung Association found lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in D.C. And across the country.

But the American Lung Association's "State of Lung Cancer" report also identified positive trends.

"With regards to the District and lung cancer, we actually are doing pretty well now," said Dr. Bobby Mahajan, volunteer representative for the American Lung Association. "We're really number four in the country in terms of identifying lung cancer screening areas and scanning people early."

The "State of Lung Cancer" report also showed a 26% improvement in survival rates over the past five years in its key findings. However, the current survival rate stands at 28.4%.

The District also ranked 9th in the country for new lung cancer cases.

"We're identifying them early, and we're getting to a point where we're actually doing well with reducing the number of new lung cancer cases occurring," said Mahajan.

Mahajan said that shows the impact of laws and interventions to reduce smoking in public areas and the number of places that can screen for lung cancer.

The report also examined health insurance coverage requirements and pointed out a gap in access to advanced diagnostic tools such as biomarker testing; the testing that analyzes tumor DNA to guide treatment decisions isn't consistent covered by insurance.

The association urged D.C. To implement policies to increase this testing by putting in place requirements for comprehensive coverage.

"If we capture lung cancers in their very earliest stages, the five-year survival is close to 92%, meaning that you're able to cure those lung cancers. So in D.C., by continuing to find these lung cancers, early survival rates will improve, and honestly, death related to lung cancer will continue to plummet," said Mahajan.

The report also looked at disparities in health care. It found Black people in D.C. Are more likely than their white counterparts to be diagnosed. But it also showed only 17% of Black people opt for surgery, as compared to 21% of white people.

"We need to be able to provide better basic health care to individuals with issues related to menthol cigarettes, which typically, in the past, have targeted African American individuals," said Mahajan. "And also these need to be diagnosed at an earlier stage, meaning, because Black individuals tend to have, unfortunately, lower incidence of preventive care."

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Study Suggests More Lives Could Be Saved With Expanded Lung Cancer Tests

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A study suggests that expanded screening for lung cancer could save more lives, especially among Black Americans. A 70-year-old woman who participated in the study says she was saved by earlier screening. NBC News' Anne Thompson.Nov. 23, 2024