A Non-Smoker's Lung Cancer Battle: A Cautionary Tale of Early Detection and Determination
Leslie Stoll, a former boxer and avid athlete, was diagnosed with stage one lung cancer in 2024, just nine months after breaking her leg in 2014. The diagnosis came after a series of medical tests, including CT scans, PET scans, and lung biopsies, which revealed the presence of cancerous cells.
What's remarkable about Stoll's story is that she had never smoked. According to Dr. Jonathan Villena-Vargas, a thoracic surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, non-smokers account for about 20% of lung cancer diagnoses each year. Stoll's case highlights the growing trend of people being diagnosed with lung cancer despite never having puffed on a cigarette.
Younger non-smoking patients are particularly vulnerable to developing mutations that drive the growth of lung cancer. Identifying these mutations allows for more personalized treatment, according to Dr. Lucas Delasos, an oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic. Researchers are also studying environmental factors, such as radon gas or other hazardous materials, which may contribute to the increasing incidence of non-smoker's lung cancer.
Stoll's diagnosis was a wake-up call that forced her to re-evaluate her relationship with her body. She had always been an athlete and enjoyed running for miles at a time. However, after her surgery, she struggled to regain her endurance. "I could barely walk down the hall" on the day after the operation, Stoll recalled.
As the days went by, Stoll slowly regained her strength. With the encouragement of her doctor, Dr. Andrew Arndt, who performed her surgery, she began to exercise again – albeit at a slower pace than before. Within nine months of her diagnosis, Stoll was back to her regular life, running and walking with her dog twice a day.
Stoll's determination to overcome cancer has left an indelible mark on her life. Her doctor drew a sketch of her lung during their initial consultation, which now sits proudly on her mantle as a reminder of the journey she has been through. Stoll credits this drawing for helping her understand the severity of her diagnosis and motivating her to take control of her health.
For those who may not have the same level of resilience as Stoll, there is a cautionary message here. Early detection and regular medical check-ups can be lifesavers. As Stoll so aptly puts it, "If I had never gone to that follow-up appointment, then I might still have cancer growing inside me."
Leslie Stoll, a former boxer and avid athlete, was diagnosed with stage one lung cancer in 2024, just nine months after breaking her leg in 2014. The diagnosis came after a series of medical tests, including CT scans, PET scans, and lung biopsies, which revealed the presence of cancerous cells.
What's remarkable about Stoll's story is that she had never smoked. According to Dr. Jonathan Villena-Vargas, a thoracic surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, non-smokers account for about 20% of lung cancer diagnoses each year. Stoll's case highlights the growing trend of people being diagnosed with lung cancer despite never having puffed on a cigarette.
Younger non-smoking patients are particularly vulnerable to developing mutations that drive the growth of lung cancer. Identifying these mutations allows for more personalized treatment, according to Dr. Lucas Delasos, an oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic. Researchers are also studying environmental factors, such as radon gas or other hazardous materials, which may contribute to the increasing incidence of non-smoker's lung cancer.
Stoll's diagnosis was a wake-up call that forced her to re-evaluate her relationship with her body. She had always been an athlete and enjoyed running for miles at a time. However, after her surgery, she struggled to regain her endurance. "I could barely walk down the hall" on the day after the operation, Stoll recalled.
As the days went by, Stoll slowly regained her strength. With the encouragement of her doctor, Dr. Andrew Arndt, who performed her surgery, she began to exercise again – albeit at a slower pace than before. Within nine months of her diagnosis, Stoll was back to her regular life, running and walking with her dog twice a day.
Stoll's determination to overcome cancer has left an indelible mark on her life. Her doctor drew a sketch of her lung during their initial consultation, which now sits proudly on her mantle as a reminder of the journey she has been through. Stoll credits this drawing for helping her understand the severity of her diagnosis and motivating her to take control of her health.
For those who may not have the same level of resilience as Stoll, there is a cautionary message here. Early detection and regular medical check-ups can be lifesavers. As Stoll so aptly puts it, "If I had never gone to that follow-up appointment, then I might still have cancer growing inside me."
. It's making me think we need to be super vigilant with our health check-ups esp after a leg injury or any other trauma, 'cause those mutated cells can pop up in weird times!
and how they're going to do some crazy stunts with Tom Holland. Like, what if he gets hurt? What's the plan for his safety? It's crazy to think about how much physicality goes into those roles. I've been meaning to get a massage myself, all these stress thoughts are piling up 
the fact that non-smokers are getting lung cancer is straight up crazy 
. it's like our bodies just decide to play us and start growing cancer cells out of thin air 
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. radon gas, toxic chemicals... these are things we're supposed to be aware of and avoid, but apparently not everyone is 
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. i mean, who needs a drawing of their lung on the mantle to motivate them to take care of themselves? that's just... 
.
What's next? Are they gonna start testing people for cancer just 'cause they had a weird feeling? I mean, Leslie Stoll was an athlete, no less. She didn't exactly have a lot of time to mess around with some random disease. And what about all the other stuff they're looking at - radon gas and hazardous materials? That's like saying I'm gonna get sick from breathing in some air... 
Give me a break!
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one... Non-smokers get lung cancer? What's up with that?! 
That's some next-level determination right there. We could all learn a thing or two from that woman... 
Like what's even more worrying is that younger people who've never smoked are now getting diagnosed with lung cancer and it's not just because of environmental factors either. Radon gas or other hazardous materials are definitely a thing, but I think we need to be careful here. We can't assume that everything is safe or that our bodies will always protect us from harm. It's all about being vigilant and taking care of ourselves, even if we're not smokers. 
And what really gets me is how often these people are diagnosed at a late stage... I mean, nine months after a broken leg? That's crazy! 
oh man this lady's story is insane! 
what are the chances right? 
researchers are saying it's not just smoking but also environmental factors like radon gas or other hazardous materials that can cause non-smoker's lung cancer 
Is there like a way to test for that at home? And how fast does it spread? 
. Like, radon gas is a big deal and we should be aware of it when we move into new homes or live in areas with high levels of it 
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. It's a big deal for non-smokers too, and we should all be on the lookout for any signs of something being wrong with our bodies 
. BUT she's a total boss and got back on track in 9 months! That sketch of her lung that her doc drew is literally the coolest thing ever - it's like a reminder to take control of your health 
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. If you're like Leslie Stoll and think you're invincible, trust me... just don't 
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especially after getting diagnosed with lung cancer at stage one. Like what even is the point of having a strong body if u can't protect it from something like cancer? 
But seriously, I think this story is just a reminder to stay healthy and keep an eye out for your body. Early detection can literally be the difference between life and death. 
Like, how much does a CT scan really cost?! It's crazy that these medical tests are becoming so advanced. Next thing you know, they'll be implanting tiny robots in our bodies to monitor our health 24/7...no thanks! 
And what about all the environmental factors, like radon gas or whatever? That's just a whole new can of worms 
. I don't want to be one of those people who has to deal with cancer treatment because some doctor decided to test me for a few dollars 
i'm literally obsessed with the layout and structure of it, tbh 
but anyway, back to leslie stoll's story... i think it's crazy how someone who's never smoked can get lung cancer, right? 
especially when you consider that young non-smokers are more likely to develop those mutations that drive lung cancer growth. 
the fact that she was able to regain her strength and get back to living her life is a testament to her determination. 
. I'm going to share this with my mates & make sure they get checked out ASAP 