Despite never smoking and leading an extremely healthy lifestyle, 45-year-old Chad Dunbar was diagnosed with advanced-stage lung cancer, noticing his condition through a rare symptom: pain and swelling in his legs. The father of two and technology manager from Utah learned in 2023 that he had stage 4 lung cancer that had spread to his brain, liver, bones, and lymph nodes close to his heart. According to information provided by doctors, his chances of surviving for five years were only 5 percent.

Dunbar shared his experience in a video aiming to support young lung cancer patients. He stated that the only symptom was pain and swelling in his legs, initially attributing it to cycling training. Highlighting that he had cycled about 4,800 kilometers throughout the season, Dunbar said, “I probably strained a muscle due to overuse.” However, tests revealed that the situation was much more serious than it appeared.

“A nurse came into the room and said, ‘We think you have lung cancer.’ At that moment, I thought, this is impossible. I ride 3,000 miles of mountain biking every season, my lungs were the strongest part of my body,” Dunbar stated. His initial reaction was denial and anger, struggling with questions like, “Why me? How can this be?”

Dunbar now emphasizes that lung cancer is not limited to classic symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath, but can also manifest with unusual signs such as leg pain or swelling in different parts of the body. The spread of cancer to lymph nodes can lead to issues like swelling in limbs and lymphedema. Tumors pressing on blood vessels or obstructing the function of vital organs can also cause similar symptoms.

In Dunbar’s case of lung cancer, a RET gene mutation was identified which causes uncontrolled cell growth. Such mutations are more common among young non-smoking patients and constitute a small portion of lung cancer cases. Initially, Dunbar responded positively to standard chemotherapy and targeted drugs. Significant improvements in the brain, liver, and ribs were observed in screenings conducted in July 2023.

But an update in March 2024 revealed that tumors in his brain and liver had started growing again. This development significantly affected Dunbar’s life expectancy once more. Still, Dunbar did not give up and decided to continue the fight after a brief “self-pity period,” recognizing the value of every moment spent with his wife Allyson and sons Walker and Noah. He travels to California every two weeks to participate in an experimental treatment.

Research indicates that around 70% of lung cancer cases are smoking-related, but the disease mysteriously shows an increase in individuals who have never smoked. Scientists consider this may be linked to increased exposure to air pollution. In the UK, around 35,000 people die from lung cancer annually, making it the deadliest cancer in the country.

Experts stress the importance of taking symptoms lasting more than three weeks seriously, such as prolonged cough, chest infections, bloody sputum, shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue. Less known signs like changes in finger shape, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and swelling in the face-neck area may also be crucial clues for early diagnosis. Dunbar’s story illustrates that a healthy lifestyle alone is not a guarantee, and lung cancer could pose a risk for everyone.