Can a non-smoker woman in her 30s get stage 4 lung cancer?

Question

Hello doctor,

I struggled my whole life with focus and chaos, but only recently got diagnosed. It is a relief but also confusing. Can someone at 65 diagnosed with ADHD for the first time still benefit from medication? Does age change how stimulants or non-stimulants work on attention and impulse control?

I am worried about heart risks, sleep issues, and anxiety. At the same time, untreated ADHD has cost me years of stress and self-blame. I do not want to dismiss treatment just because the diagnosis came late. I need to know if meds can still meaningfully help or if coping strategies alone are safer now.

Kindly advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I know the fear and worry the whole family is going through. With a stage 4 diagnosis, it sounds like a lot, understandably. I have one thing to say to reassure you: Lung adenocarcinoma has a good chance of responding well to treatment.

Once her general condition improves and oxygenation is better, treatment can move forward, and options may include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy when appropriate, and sometimes radiation, depending on the case. These treatments can lead to very meaningful responses, and people can improve significantly.

Lung cancer at a younger age is indeed less common, and stage 4 disease is difficult news to receive, but treatment today has advanced a great deal, and many patients can achieve good control of the tumor and metastases, and some live for many years with modern therapies, including immunotherapy and targeted treatments, depending on the tumor biology.

In terms of genetics, lung cancers can be linked to mutations, but that is not to say that it runs strongly in the family. Many of these changes are specific to the tumour and are not inherited.

Not having smoked does not rule out lung cancer. Lung cancer can occur in people who have never smoked. There can be many possible contributing factors, including secondhand smoke, environmental exposures, dust, chemicals, and sometimes no clear cause at all.

Overall, there is real reason for hope because these treatments can be very effective, and many patients do much better than people initially fear.

I hope this is clear, and if you have any questions at any time, please feel free to ask

Thank you.