Battling Unexpected Cancer Despite a Smoke-Free Life

Yvette Ramirez received a life-altering diagnosis at the age of 32. She had never smoked and had no family history of lung cancer. Living in the Netherlands, she had envisioned a long future ahead. But a persistent cough changed everything.

"I was eventually diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer," Ramirez shared. Despite her smoke-free history, the diagnosis was shocking.

The Rise of Young Nonsmoking Lung Cancer Patients

Ramirez’s experience highlights a trend noted by oncologists: lung cancer in younger, nonsmoking individuals. Often driven by genetic factors, it is frequently detected late because it’s unexpected in such patients.

Ramirez grew up in Florida with Cuban and Salvadoran roots. Her cough began in September 2022 after moving to the Netherlands, and she initially dismissed it as seasonal. But the symptoms persisted.

In December, it was her partner’s suggestion that led her to seek medical advice. The doctor suspected bronchitis but the prescribed medicine did not help.

Pursuing Answers Amidst Relentless Symptoms

While visiting the U.S., Ramirez sought help in an ER. A chest scan showed inflammation, but no further investigation was conducted. Back in the Netherlands, her doctor considered a respiratory infection but eventually referred her to a pulmonologist.

Following a PET scan, she received startling news from an online portal: she had a tumor. A biopsy confirmed stage 4 EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma in February 2023. The cancer had spread to her brain.

Redefining Her Life and Legacy

The diagnosis caused Ramirez to grieve not only her health but also the future she had envisioned, including starting a family. It prompted introspection on her legacy.

Rediscovering an old project, her limited representation in children’s books inspired her to create Kuro Libros, a bilingual children’s publishing brand. Her debut book, Mi Familia Cubana con Kuro / My Cuban Family with Kuro, features her black cat visiting family in Miami.

Embracing Time and Identity

Cancer impacted her relationship with time, but it didn’t define her publishing endeavor. She shared her story publicly to demonstrate that stage 4 lung cancer affects diverse individuals.

Ramirez began treatment with osimertinib (Tagrisso) in 2023 but switched to erlotinib due to drug-related pneumonitis. In 2024, she resumed osimertinib at a reduced dose. In March, MET amplification required adding tepotinib (Tepmetko) to her treatment.

She continues her regimen alongside regular monitoring, describing her condition as living with a chronic disease rather than being defined by it.

"Making plans and pursuing meaningful work is not denial," she insists. "It is a way of refusing to let cancer become my entire identity."