At 45, Chad Dunbar was the picture of health—a father of two, avid cyclist, and non-smoker. Yet in 2023, his world was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, with only a 5% chance of living beyond five years. His story serves as a powerful reminder that lung cancer can affect even those without typical risk factors.
Chad’s journey began after an intense cycling trip, logging over 3,000 mountain miles. Shortly after, he started feeling pain and swelling in one calf. Initially brushing it off as muscle fatigue, he later sought medical advice—and the devastating diagnosis followed.
“I thought, no way—my lungs are probably the healthiest part of me,” Chad shared in a moving video detailing the shock, denial, and anger he felt. Despite no smoking history and living in clean air environments like Colorado and Utah, his cancer was real and aggressive.
His diagnosis revealed that his cancer was caused by a rare genetic mutation called RET, which can cause fast-growing lung tumors in non-smokers. It had already spread to his brain, liver, bones, and lymph nodes—a late-stage diagnosis that is difficult to treat.
Initially, targeted therapies aimed at the RET mutation, combined with chemotherapy, brought encouraging results. Scans showed shrinkage of tumors in the brain and liver, giving Chad renewed hope. But by early 2024, the cancer had developed a new mutation, and his doctors gave him just a 5% chance of survival beyond five years.
Despite the grim outlook, Chad refuses to give up. He’s choosing to fight and cherish every moment with his family. “I’ll take those odds and hang on,” he says with courage and determination.
His story highlights a little-known symptom of lung cancer—pain and swelling in the limbs—which could help others seek medical advice sooner. Sharing his journey raises awareness that lung cancer isn’t just a smoker’s disease, and early detection can save lives.
