Sad! Woman Who Has Never Smoked is Diagnosed With an Incurable Lung Cancer (Photos)

Posted by Thandiubani on Wed 09th Dec, 2015 - tori.ng

A brave woman has shown resilience and determination after she was diagnosed with lung cancer even though she has never smoked in her entire life.

Brave bride: Alisha Barnett

Doctors have been shocked to discover that a bride-to-be who has never smoked was has an incurable lung cancer.

The super-fit Alisha Barnett, 28 from Borough, south London, was diagnosed with stage four advanced lung cancer in December 2014 after going to the doctor with a cough.

It was found that she had a mutation of a particular gene that had caused her lung cancer – something that is very rare. Those with the mutation tend to be much younger than the general lung cancer patient population, and usually, they have never smoked.

Alisha's genetic mutation was discovered on the morning she was due to start chemotherapy but in light of this new information; doctors advised she could use a drug called crizotinib instead, which had relatively few side effects.

Alisha and Boyfriend, Jon Douglas

Although this drug is not suitable for the majority of lung cancer patients, this drug targets Alisha’s specific mutation. Unfortunately, cancer cells can often become resistant, five months after beginning the treatment, Alisha’s cough returned.

In mid-2015 she began chemotherapy and her cancer began shrinking again. Alisha has now been on maintenance chemo for the past three months. She said: "The scariest moment for me was when I woke up with hair on my pillow, but at least this meant that the drug was working.

"To others, I'd say that you really shouldn't ignore health issues. It's not normal to have a cough for three months and it seems obvious to me now but you shouldn't feel embarrassed or as though you're causing a fuss."

Dr Tom Newsom-Davis from Leaders In Oncology Care said: "When I first met Alisha she appeared healthy. In fact no one looking at her would have thought that she had cancer. Despite this, the scans I had carried out showed that the cancer had spread to more than one place in her body, and so was classified as advanced - or stage 4 - disease.

"I am overwhelmed by her positive attitude. She has never, ever, complained about her situation or the endless tests I ask her to undertake.

"I have never seen her without a smile on her face and this is testament to her character, not my treatments.”

But despite her diagnosis, brave Alisha says she feels lucky and is set to marry her partner of four years, 31-year-old Jon Douglas, on December 19 - after he romantically proposed to her in Paris on Valentine's Day. She loves to tell people of the danger of smoking and not just the smokers but also people around them.