Man given antibiotics for an irritating cough got ‘shock of his life’ when ‘chest infection’ turned sinister
DAVE Marcus would always ignore his pesky cough because he never smoked.
So when doctors discovered his chest infection was lung cancer, he had the “shock of his life”.
“I was so focused on the fact that I had never smoked that I, unintentionally, ignored the clearest of warning signs – a persistent cough,” the 57-year-old from Cheshire said.
After having surgery to remove a hernia and being given antibiotics for the suspected chest infection, the cough persisted.
“Even at this point, I wasn’t concerned about my cough,” Dave said.
“After the hernia operation, the cough had become quite mild.
“I’d cough occasionally through the day and night.
“It wasn’t aggressive, just persistent.
“If anything, it was more irritating than worrisome. It never felt ominous.
“I think that’s why lung cancer was never in my mind, and why would it be?
“I hadn’t smoked so why would I get lung cancer?”
Dave’s partner Emelie was undergoing treatment for colon cancer at the time and insisted that he get a second opinion.
Only then did doctors discover he had a 7.8cm tumour and was then diagnosed with lung cancer – seven months after he first started coughing.
He spoke to a doctor through his work at healthcare company Teladoc Health, which led to his diagnosis in October this year.
Dave said: “This doctor took things much more seriously, especially given the length of time I had had this cough.
I am proof that it can happen to anyone and catching it early means there’s life after lung cancer
Dave Marcus
“He insisted I see a respiratory consultant.
“That’s when I got the biggest shock of my life.”
Dave admitted he “unintentionally ignored” his cough because he’s never smoked before.
He said: “It’s a sobering thought to think how close things got “So much of that is down to the perception of lung cancer – or lack of understanding around this type of cancer.
“I was so focused on the fact that I had never smoked that I, unintentionally, ignored the clearest of warning signs – a persistent cough.
“But I wasn’t alone in this thinking.
“It wasn’t until I got that second opinion that lung cancer became a possibility.
“It’s definitely time we stop thinking about lung cancer in this way.
“I am proof that it can happen to anyone and catching it early means there’s life after lung cancer.”
How do people who never smoke get lung cancer?
WE'RE all well aware of the perils of smoking, with cigarettes responsible for seven out of 10 cases of lung cancer.
If you’ve never puffed on a cigarette, your odds of sidestepping the disease are altogether much stronger.
But it’s still possible to develop lung cancer even if you’ve sworn off tobacco.
In fact, up to 14 per cent of people with lung cancer in the UK have never smoked, according to Cancer Research UK.
What are the symptoms?
Most nonsmokers have no early signs of lung cancer, which means they’re often not diagnosed until it has spread.
But some people do notice symptoms in the cancer’s early stages, Yale oncologists said.
These are similar to the symptoms in smokers and may include the following:
- A cough that doesn’t go away or gets worse over time
- Coughing up blood
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Trouble breathing
- Wheezing
- Hoarseness
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss for no reason
- Fatigue
- Trouble swallowing
- Swelling in the face and/or the neck
- Recurrent lung infections, including pneumonia
What are the risk factors for lung cancer?
Even if you’ve never picked up a cigarette in your life, a combination of other factors can still put you at risk of developing the disease.
For starters, passive smoking – breathing in other people’s cigarette smoke – can slightly increase your risk, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Your age is another driver, as the cancer is more common in older people, with more than four in 10 people diagnosed with lung cancer being 75 and over.
Materials and substances you inhale while working can also increase your chances of developing lung cancer.
One such material is asbestos, a material that was previously used in the building industry.
People who have been in prolonged or close contact with asbestos have a higher risk of getting lung cancer, Macmillan said.
Heavy metals and diesel exhaust are two more cancer-causing agents that people could be exposed to at work, Yale oncologists added.
Then there’s radon gas.
In certain parts of the UK, a natural gas called radon can pass from the soil into the foundations of buildings.
While exposure to high levels of radon isn’t common, it can increase the risk of developing lung cancer, particularly in people who also smoke.
Finally, where you live can also up your risk, as research has shown that air pollution can be a driving factor behind lung cancer cases.
The risk is linked to air quality and how much pollution a person is exposed to, but for most people, the risk is very small, Macmillan noted.
Dave is now supporting the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation’s “Let Go of the Labels” campaign for lung cancer awareness month.
The charity is calling for a stop to terms like smoker and never-smoker.
Paula Chadwick, chief executive of the foundation, said: “We need to do everything we can to ensure everyone with lung cancer is diagnosed as quickly as possible.”
“Labels like ‘smoker’ and ‘never smoker’ can distort what’s really going on and stop people from getting diagnosed earlier.
“It’s time to let go of these archaic labels.
“Lung cancer doesn’t see them and neither should we.”