Published Jan 14, 2022

Single Mother, 36, Thought Persistent Cough Was COVID-19; She Was Diagnosed With Advanced Lung Cancer Despite Never Smoking

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A Single Mother's Fight

Becky Davis, 36, thought she had COVID-19 when she started experiencing a persistent cough. When the cough was not going away and she started experiencing other symptoms such as unexplained weight loss and constant fatigue, she visited her doctor. She was diagnosed with late stage lung cancer.
Davis was not a smoker, but lung cancer isn’t just a “smoker’s disease.” One in five people who have never smoked or vaped will be diagnosed with the disease.
Treatment can differ based on whether you have smoked or not. 60% to 70% of non-smokers have a genetic mutation that can be targeted.

When single mother Becky Davis, 36, started experiencing a persistent cough in January 2020, she initially believed she had contracted COVID-19. However, as it continued to get worse and would not go away, she decided to visit her doctor to get some answers. To her utter shock, she was diagnosed with late stage lung cancer.

In addition to the cough, Davis started experiencing unexplained weight loss, constant fatigue, and an overwhelming need to clear her throat. She got numerous COVID-19 tests, but they all came back negative. This prompted her to visit her doctor, where she was diagnosed with stage 4 ALK-positive lung cancer after going through scans. Upon hearing she had lung cancer, Davis could not believe the news. For one, she was relatively young, and two, she had never smoked a day in her life.

“They told me there was a mass on my right lung,” Davis said. “ I said, 'Are you talking about cancer?' She said, 'It could be.' I was just hysterical. I had a five-year-old to think about."

All Davis could think about was her young daughter Lexi. She immediately shared the information with her, and that her diagnosis was deemed terminal as chemotherapy would be ineffective in Davis’ case. Despite Davis’ family raising significant funds to help her navigate another treatment path, the young mother is focused on making as many memories with her daughter as possible.

“I don't want to strip away her innocence, but we talk about it often,” Davis says. “I tell her I've got cancer and I won't be here forever. I want her to know what's coming. I don't know how long I've got left. Obviously, I hope it's years, but all I can do is wait and see. Nothing will be a cure. Not at this point. All I can hope is that it gives me more time with Lexi.”

Dr. Geoffrey Oxnard breaks down how genetics factor into late stage lung cancer

Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers

There's been some incredible progress in lung cancer treatment in recent decades. While it does mainly affect smokers, one in five people who have never smoked or vaped will be diagnosed with the disease. That being said, smokers are 25 times more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer than non-smokers.

Treatment can differ based on whether you have smoked or not.

"Among patients who are non-smokers, or former very light smokers, we identify a mutation that we can target with pills in about 60% to 70% of them," Dr. Ronald Natale, director of the Lung Cancer Clinical Research Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet. "That leaves 30% or so, 40%, in whom we either have a target for which we do not have successful treatmentâ€¦So we're giving chemotherapy to about 30% to 40% of patients who are non-smokers."

Dr. Ronald Natale explains the difference of lung cancer in smokers vs. non-smokers

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