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What I am about to tell you about lung cancer will turn your world upside down...or at least your perception of what you think you know about lung cancer.

Hello, my name is Bev and I am a two time lung cancer survivor. I'm sure you are asking yourself, "Why does she think that is so unusual?" I had NEVER smoked. Yes, you did read that right. I am a two time non-smoking lung cancer survivor. Furthermore, I was not raised with smokers and did not marry a smoker. There was not a family history of lung cancer and as far as we know I was not exposed to any other risk factors. In other words, I could be perceived as an anomaly.

My first bout with cancer occurred in 1981 - 1982. I was 28 years old and the mother of an 18 month old son. The discovery of the tumor on my lung was actually a fluke. I was out shopping in October 1981 with my mother, son and disabled sister when suddenly I felt a sharp and disabling pain shoot across my right collar bone.

It was a searing hot white pain that stopped me in my tracks. I was just pulling into the parking lot at the mall when it happened and was driving a five speed stick shift. I couldn't drive. I stopped and let the pain subside and hoped it was a momentary thing. I was use to aches and pains because I had never really been a robustly healthy gal.

It did pass and we continued on - and then it hit me again. This time it took my breath away. I knew then I should really go see my doctor. We couldn't get stranded...I was the only one that could drive that stick shift!

I took everyone home and Mom sat with my son while I went to the doctor. He had been my physician since I was 12 years old and I welcomed his kind and caring face. After listening to my symptoms, he thought it might be a collapsed lung and recommended an x-ray.

Little did I know I would become a pro at chest x-rays. Down I went to x-ray and after taking the required views, back up to the exam room I went to wait on the doctor to come in and tell me what they had found or if they had found anything.

I waited...and waited...and waited. I began to suspect something WAS wrong. And, then I heard the doctor talking quietly down the hall with a nurse. I could sense concern in both of their voices and I knew they were at the station where he read the x-rays.

Shortly he came into my exam room and his kind face said it all. I knew instantly something was wrong and indeed it was. There was a place on the lower lobe of my right lung about the size of a quarter. We discussed possibilities,

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