‘Super Healthy’ Hot Yoga Fan, 30, Thought His Hoarse Voice And Back Pain Were From COVID: It Turned Out To Be Cancer

But weeks passed and his symptoms persisted. His back pain even got worse moving to his lower back, pelvis and legs. He also developed a new symptom: aching bones.

It was February when Jordan finally decided to see a doctor, so he visited a walk-in clinic. He explained his symptoms, which led to a chest X-ray, CT scan, biopsy and bronchoscopy (a procedure a doctor uses to look inside the lungs).

In April, Jordan received his shocking diagnosis: stage 4 lung cancer. He had a 4-inch tumor wrapped around his pulmonary artery, as well as other tumors growing along his spine. The cancer had already spread to his surrounding lymph nodes, his liver, and pelvic and leg bones.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jordan Turko (@jordan_turko)

He shared the news to Instagram on April 29, and the well wishes began pouring in.

"Who would have guessed that?" Jordan told TODAY of his diagnosis. "Even now, in hindsight, who would be like, 'Oh, your back is in pain. You have lung cancer.'"

"(Doctors) think the tumor actually started in January," he added, "which is crazy to think it grew to 4 inches in a couple months and spread throughout the entire body."

Once Jordan's diagnosis was confirmed, he underwent emergency radiation treatment in late April because his doctors were worried the tumors growing on his spine could paralyze him.

On May 3, he rang the bell, signaling the end of his radiation treatments. Now, the hot yoga enthusiast is receiving targeted therapy in the form of a pill.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jordan Turko (@jordan_turko)

"Cancer doesn't discriminate, including against young people. Be vigilant with your health," he said, warning others to listen to their bodies.

Understanding Lung Cancer

There are two main types of lung cancer. The type a person has will chart the course for their treatment plan, as well as the cancer's predicted progression. (It should be noted that the type of lung cancer Jordan was diagnosed with remains unknown.)

The two main types of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer, which is the most common and makes up about 85% of cases, and then there's small cell lung cancer, which is less common, but tends to grow faster than non-small cell, and it’s treated very differently.

Take it From a Guy Who Looks at Diseased Lungs Every Day Stop Smoking

It should also be noted that lung cancer has been directly linked to cigarette smoking and is the number one risk factor for developing this type of cancer. It also remains unclear if Jordan ever smoked cigarettes, but considering his health lifestyle, probably not.

"If you're smoking, don't smoke," Dr. Joseph Friedberg, head of thoracic surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, previously told SurvivorNet. "You never return down all the way to the (level of) the person who never smoked as far as your risk of lung cancer goes, but it goes down with time."

But that doesn't mean you can't develop lung cancer if you don't smoke cigarettes.

Lung Cancer in Smokers vs. Non-Smokers

In fact, 20% of people who die from lung cancer in the U.S. each year have never smoked or have never used any other form of tobacco.

We say that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer, regardless if you’ve smoked or not.

Staying Positive During Cancer

While Jordan's diagnosis was grim, he remains determined to maintain an "unbreakable positive attitude" while going through treatment.

"I felt the entire time that I am going to live, that I'm going to survive from the moment I was diagnosed, I felt that way," he told TODAY.

"It's so easy to get lost in the despair of it," he added. "It's OK to let your emotions roll over you, and I certainly did. I certainly had those feelings, too. But if you stay there, you're more likely to die. If you can find your way out of that … you're giving yourself the best chance possible."

Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, previously told SurvivorNet that he can tell which of his patients will thrive while fighting cancer solely from their attitude.

And "a positive attitude is really important," he said.

Stay Positive, it Matters

Remember: If you've just been diagnosed with cancer, negative feelings are normal.

Men and women react in different ways anger, shame, fear, anxiety.

It’s to be expected.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.