Living with Metastatic Lung Cancer: Clara’s Honest Take on Life and Treatment
Clara’s story is one of change, resilience, and real talk about life with metastatic lung cancer. Diagnosed at just 30, Clara was an avid runner, living independently, and working full-time as a graphic designer. Throughout most of 2024, she chalked up her growing discomfort and hip pain to running-related injuries. After an MRI revealed a herniated disc, it seemed like a clear explanation for her pain, but it turned out that the discomfort was also linked to metastatic lung cancer that had already spread to her bones and joints.
Interviewed by: Nikki Murphy
Edited by: Katrina Villareal
What made things especially confusing was that Clara didn’t experience the classic symptoms of lung cancer. There was no coughing or shortness of breath; none of the usual warning signs associated with it. Instead, she felt dizzy, lightheaded, lost weight, and had swollen lymph nodes, neuropathy, and unexplained headaches.
For months, Clara pushed through it all, thinking it might be a blood disorder or an autoimmune disease. The breast lump she noticed in October raised red flags, but she set it aside until things escalated. Eventually, she landed in the emergency room after throwing up nonstop. That’s when doctors found the metastases.
When Clara was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, she was stunned. Her cancer had spread not just to her bones, but to her liver and brain. It felt surreal, like it was happening to someone else. Once she returned to Iowa for treatment, things moved fast.
Clara started brain radiation immediately and underwent genetic testing that revealed the MSH6 mutation, something she had never heard of before. This biomarker guided her treatment plan: a combination of two chemotherapies and immunotherapy. She is still on immunotherapy now and will be for life.
Becoming disabled has been one of the most difficult parts of this experience. Clara went from running half marathons to relying on a walker or a cane. Losing that level of independence hurts, but she’s working through it with honesty and strength. She also stresses the importance of self-advocacy, listening to your body, asking questions, and making your needs known, whether in the doctor’s office or around loved ones.
Now, Clara’s mission is to advocate and educate others through her TikTok and beyond. From breaking down scary medical procedures like brain radiation to showing how a chemo port works, she’s demystifying the parts of cancer that are often misunderstood or feared. She’s open about the emotions, the identity shift, and the practical realities of living with metastatic lung cancer, while reminding others that life doesn’t stop — it just changes, and that’s okay.
Watch Clara’s video to find out more about her story:
- How a running injury masked the signs of metastatic lung cancer
- Why Clara didn’t have any typical lung cancer symptoms and what she felt instead
- What it’s like to become disabled after a stage 4 cancer diagnosis
- How Clara uses creativity and TikTok to educate and advocate for others with cancer
- What surprised her most about brain radiation and why it’s not as scary as it sounds
- Name: Clara C.
- Age at Diagnosis:
- 30
- Diagnosis:
- Lung Cancer
- Mutation:
- MSH6
- Staging:
- Stage 4
- Symptoms:
- Pelvic pain
- Joint and bone pain
- Breast lump
- Extreme lightheadedness and dizziness
- Vomiting
- Fainting spells
- Swollen lymph node in the neck
- Neuropathy
- Headaches
- Unexplained weight loss
- Severe anemia
- Treatments:
- Radiation therapy to the brain
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. This is not medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider to make informed treatment decisions.
The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect those of The Patient Story.
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