Golf Ball-Sized Mass Discovered In 35-Year-Old Dad & Non-Smoker Diagnosed With Late-Stage Lung Cancer After Dry Cough

Two weeks later, after the antibiotics he was given for pneumonia didn’t help, he underwent further testing, which revealed a large mass in his right lung was cancerous. Scans revealed the cancer had spread to his bones, adrenal glands and lungs.

Lewis, who works as an advanced nurse practitioner, said in a recent interview, according to The Mirror, “Back in December, this dry cough started that just never went away. There was this 100-day cough going around and I was seeing sick people on a daily basis so I didn’t think much of it.

“I was managing it and still doing my day to day stuff like going to the gym. I finally went to the doctors in February time and the doctor checked me over and came to the conclusion that it was just a cough. They weren’t worried. I started getting these really bad pains in my shoulder and chest.”

Recounting when he learned of his lung cancer diagnosis, Lewis said, “I was completely shocked. I thought worst-case scenario it might be cancer but could be removed. So when I was told it was incurable, it was quite hard to take. They think it might have been growing there for a couple of years but there were no real symptoms.

“It’s a case of buying time rather than curing. Without treatment, the timeline is around four to seven months. With treatment, they just don’t know it’s how you respond to treatment. You could respond quite well and have a couple of years, they just don’t know. … This is never anything that would’ve crossed my mind in a million years. I had no symptoms prior to the cough – I was going to the gym every night, don’t drink, don’t smoke. You get quite angry and think ‘why me?’ when people have smoked their whole lives.”

Lewis hopes his story will inspire others to get checked sooner than later, saying, “You know when something isn’t right, keep pushing for these checks. I wish I’d taken out life insurance. It’s not something you usually think about in your thirties. I feel like the biggest burden to my family. I’d encourage everyone to take out life insurance.

“You think you’re invincible and it won’t happen to you – certainly at this age – but it would’ve helped us so much now.”

Although Lewis has been feeling a variety of overwhelming emotions since learning he had cancer, he hasn’t let it stopped him from remaining grateful, hopeful, and joyful amid adversity.

Writing in an update shared on his GoFundMe page, which has since raised more than $60,000, Lewis praised those who donated for their generosity and heartfelt words and messages, all which have provided him “immense comfort and strength during this challenging time.”

After noting, in the July update, how his cancer has spread to his brain, he insists his family is “determined to stay positive and continue fighting, one day at a time.”

He wrote, “Your generosity has lifted our spirits in ways words cannot fully express. The love and encouragement we receive from each of you remind us that we are not alone in this battle. We are deeply grateful for every message and every donation. Your compassion and kindness give us the strength to face each new day, even when it feels impossible.

“We are taking things one step at a time, focusing on the small victories and the moments of joy amidst the pain. Your support has given us the courage to hold onto hope and cherish the time we have together. The love you have shown us is a constant reminder of the beauty and goodness in the world, even in the darkest of times.”

Understanding Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer, and the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the United States. It can be particularly tricky to treat because often, symptoms don’t show up until the cancer has spread to other organs.

RELATED: Lung Cancer Overview

There are two main types of lung cancer, which doctors group together based on how they act and how they’re treated:

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type and makes up about 85% of cases
• Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is less common, but it tends to grow faster than NSCLC and is treated very differently

While this is a serious cancer, its outlook is improving. For one thing, fewer people are getting lung cancer because smoking rates are on the decline.  Also, there have been improvements in surgical techniques and radiation delivery that have improved outcomes and decreased side effects.

Lung Cancer in Smokers vs. Non-Smokers

For example, most but not all early-stage Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) can be surgically removed and followed by chemotherapy. According to the American Cancer Society, only “21% of all early-stage NSCLC cases end up undergoing surgical removal.” This number may be so low because surgery can be a taxing treatment for the body.

Finally, newer treatments — like immunotherapy and targeted agents — are dramatically improving the length and quality of life for people who are diagnosed with lung cancer.

Lung Cancer Treatment Options

After a lung cancer diagnosis, you will need to discuss a few things with your doctor, such as the stage of the disease, your treatment options, and how long you have to consider these options, say our experts. Take your time in making a decision, and don’t be afraid to get a second opinion.

Treatment varies depending on which type and stage of cancer you have. If the cancer is local — meaning just in the lungs — surgery may be an option. But if it has spread to the lymph nodes, a combination of radiation with chemotherapy, followed by immunotherapy, may be the best option. Once the cancer has spread outside of the lungs, chemotherapy and/or targeted drugs are used to control its growth as much as possible.

Stage I lung cancer means that your cancer is only in your lungs and has not started to spread to your lymph nodes. Surgery to remove the cancer is considered the gold standard for this stage. Although there are subdivisions of stage I lung cancer, everyone who can have surgery should have surgery to remove their tumor. Some doctors or centers may discuss using a targeted drug after surgery depending on specific aspects unique to your tumor.

For anyone who can’t have surgery because of underlying health conditions, the current standard of care is stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), which directs extremely high doses of radiation to the tumor. SBRT minimizes the radiation dose to nearby structures, reducing the risk of damage to healthy organs.

WATCH: Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer

Stage II lung cancer means that your cancer is still in your lung, but it has spread to at least one lymph node. Surgery to remove a lobe of the lung (lobectomy) and the affected lymph node(s) is the first-line treatment. As with stage I lung cancer, there are subdivisions of stage II lung cancer, but these often don’t affect the initial treatment decision. Surgery is the gold standard treatment for stage II lung cancer, regardless of what subdivision you have. In some cases, surgery to remove the whole lung (pneumonectomy) may be necessary.

Chemotherapy plus immunotherapy may also be recommended to shrink the tumor before surgery and reduce chances of recurrence after surgery. Some doctors may discuss using a targeted drug after surgery depending on specific aspects unique to your tumor.  Surgery could be followed by additional chemo and immunotherapy. In people with stage II disease who are unable to have surgery, meeting with a radiation oncologist is a very important step, because the tumor may be able to effectively be treated with radiation or chemoradiation, a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.

The decision to proceed with surgery for stage IIIA lung cancer is not always black and white, and it’s an area where doctors sometimes disagree. In stage IIIA, surgery can play a role, depending on where the cancer is, how close it is to other structures, and how many lymph nodes are affected. Chemotherapy plus immunotherapy may also be an option before surgery to shrink the tumor and destroy any errant cancer cells. In scenarios where surgery is not ideal, patients are treated with radiation therapy, which is often given together with chemotherapy. Many of those who are treated with radiation and chemotherapy will receive immunotherapy, as well.

In stage IIIB, cancer has spread to the lymph nodes on the opposite side of the chest, or it has invaded another area, such as the veins feeding the heart. This stage is most often treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy, followed by immunotherapy. Like with stage IIIA disease, radiation serves as the backbone of treatment for patients with stage IIIB disease, and chemotherapy is often given to enhance the effects of radiation. Patients who tolerate chemotherapy and radiation therapy well are also considered for immunotherapy.

In stage IIIC, the primary tumor is large and the cancer has spread to lymph nodes on the opposite side of the chest, or it has invaded other structures, such as the veins feeding the heart.  As with stage IIIA and stage IIIB cancers, radiation therapy is the mainstay of treatment. Chemotherapy is also used to enhance the effect of radiation therapy. Patients who respond to treatment may also receive immunotherapy.

Surgical Options For Lung Cancer

Meanwhile, SurvivorNet previously asked some of the leading surgeons in the country to help explain the options for lung cancer surgery.

There are several types of surgery for lung cancer, and the decision about which is best is based largely on the location of your cancer, its size and whether it has started to spread. A wedge resection is an option if the tumor is small and located on the outside of the lung. In this procedure, your surgeon removes a piece of the lung (in the shape of a wedge) and lung function is not affected.

By contrast, a lobectomy or a segmentectomy involves the removal of a certain segment of the lung (a lobe). During a pneumonectomy, however, the entire lung is removed.

There are several different ways to do lung cancer surgery. The standard operation used to be open surgery with a big incision in the chest and then spreading apart the ribs. But because of the pain after the operation and the lengthy recovery time, doctors are increasingly using less invasive operations including minimally invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic techniques.

How to Choose a Surgeon Does Volume Matter?

Your surgeon will go over all of these options with you when planning your treatment.

Questions for Your Doctor

If you are diagnosed with lung cancer and are concerned about the long-term impacts, here are some questions you can ask your doctor.

• Has my cancer spread to other parts of the body?
• Based on my cancer stage, what are my treatment options?
• What are the side effects of my recommended treatment?
• Are there ways to help minimize the effects of treatment?
• How long will I be unable to work or carry out my daily activities?
• What financial resources are available to get the treatments I need?

Beware Of Marketing Gimmicks When It Comes To Surgery

Coping With Emotions After Cancer

After a cancer diagnosis, patients often are consumed with emotions, and managing them all can be a daunting task.

“People have a range of emotions when they’re diagnosed with cancer,” Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik previously told SurvivorNet.

“And they can include fear, anger … and these emotions tend to be fluid. They can recede and return based on where someone is in the process. Going through a cancer diagnosis is just the beginning of a complicated, complicated process.”

According to Mental Health America, “56% of adults with a mental illness receive no treatment, and over 27 million individuals experiencing a mental illness are going untreated.”

While millions of people have unmet mental health needs, the need for mental health resources is even greater among cancer patients and their families.

Research published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences found that “35 to 40 percent of cancer patients have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder,” and the number of people experiencing mental health challenges is “higher among cancer patients with advanced stages of cancer and in palliative care settings.”

RELATED: Struggling with ‘Scanxiety?’ See Tips to Best Cope

According to Dr. Asher Aladjem, a physician psychiatrist at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, addressing your symptoms one by one with a mental health professional can go a long way in making treatment a more tolerable experience.

“Patients need to know they’re entitled to get the whole spectrum of services, and the mental health service is a very important one, I think,” Dr. Aladiem tells SurvivorNet.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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