A young woman named Clara Cirks (30) began to suffer from several serious symptoms, but believed that she had just injured herself while running. A routine visit to the doctor led to several tests that revealed he was suffering from stage four cancer. , despite a serious diagnosis, she tries to be positive and fights to live as long as possible.
- The American Clara Cirks was troubled by a number of symptoms.
- She believed her condition was caused by a running injury.
- Doctors soon discovered that he was suffering from lung cancer, which had spread to several parts of his body.
- She underwent chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy to keep the disease at bay.
- Currently, Clara is trying to raise awareness about lung cancer.
Clara from the US state of Iowa noticed strange symptoms about a year ago, including persistent fatigue and dizziness. At first, the doctor thought she had a herniated disc in her spine, so she underwent physical therapy and a visit to a chiropractor. However, when the treatment did not work, the young American underwent further examinations.
An MRI revealed weakened bone marrow activity, prompting doctors to perform urgent blood tests. The results showed that Clara was suffering from severe anemia, a lack of healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body. The former graphic designer also noticed a lump on her breast and swollen lymph nodes on her neck. At the time, she considered it to be the result of problems with her spine.
Clara’s health worsened significantly in January 2025, so she was taken to the emergency room. Tests revealed that he was actually suffering from stage 4 adenocarcinoma, an aggressive form of lung cancer.
Doctors discovered that the disease had spread to multiple organs, including the breast, lymph nodes, pelvis, bones, liver and brain. Since the condition weakened the bones, it also caused the disc itself to pop out. “I was completely devastated. I thought that this is the end and I will die soon“, the American revealed.
Following her diagnosis, Clara underwent five rounds of brain radiation, six rounds of chemotherapy and now faces lifelong immunotherapy treatment to keep the disease under control. “Given that I am at a young age and was previously quite healthy, the doctors give me a good prognosis. I know the survival rate for stage four lung cancer patients is only 9%, but I plan to be part of that small group,” said a determined Clara.
Clara, who was a healthy athlete before her illness, tries to fight despite the difficult diagnosis. Although she has been forced to replace running with gentler activities such as yoga and cycling, she continues her treatment.
She currently lives with her father, who takes care of her. She also hopes to use her cancer experience to raise awareness about the disease. “In 2024, I had so many health problems, but I didn’t pay attention to them at all. I wish I had seen my doctor much earlier. If something is wrong, call him. I was so afraid of being annoying, but you need to talk about problems,” Clara finished.
