Clara thought at first that she had just hurt her back while running (Image: Jam Press/@C_Cirks)
A woman who believed she had just picked up a minor injury while running was devastated to discover that she actually had stage 4 cancer. Clara Cirks was given the shock diagnosis after reporting months of unexplained health problems. Clara, 30, went to her doctor with a string of worsening symptoms including fatigue, vomiting, lightheadedness and fainting spells.
What was initially believed to be a herniated disc in her spine was eventually revealed to be stage 4 adenocarcinoma – an aggressive form of lung cancer. “I was absolutely devastated,” Clara said. “I was okay with the cancer being in my body from the neck down but when they told me it had spread to my brain as well, it shattered me. I thought, this is it, I’m going to die.”
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Clara had been plagued by a series of mystery aches and pains (Image: Jam Press/@C_Cirks)
She explained that, although the herniated disc was a real injury, the severe bone and joint pain surrounding it was attributed to cancer that had spread.
Clara added: “My family has been an incredible support system to lean on. My mom, dad, brother, as well as multiple aunts and uncles and cousins have been extremely supportive and reliable to assist me.”
As doctors initially believed Clara had a herniated disc, she was treated with physiotherapy, chiropractic sessions and steroid injections. But when nothing worked, further tests were carried out.
An MRI showed weakened bone marrow activity, so doctors did urgent blood tests, which showed Clara had severe anaemia – meaning her blood didn’t have enough healthy red cells to carry oxygen around her body.
The former graphic designer had also previously noticed a lump on her breast and swollen lymph nodes in her neck. Clara dismissed it at the time, putting her symptoms down to her ongoing back issues.
Clara has undergone punishing chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment (Image: Jam Press/@C_Cirks)
But her condition took a terrifying turn when she began vomiting uncontrollably and was rushed to A&E. Scans in January 2025 revealed the cancer had spread to multiple organs, including her breast, lymph nodes, pelvis, bones, liver and brain.
She said: “My prognosis is optimistic – given I was prior mostly healthy and because I am so young, my oncology team has faith for me to live for years to come.
“I know that the survival rate for Stage 4 Lung Cancer is only 9% – making it past five years beyond their diagnosis – however, I plan to be a part of that 9%.”
Clara, from Dallas Center, Iowa, has endured five rounds of whole brain radiation, six cycles of chemotherapy and she now faces a lifetime on immunotherapy treatment to keep the disease at bay.
Clara has had to give up her very active lifestyle (Image: Jam Press/@C_Cirks)
Her treatment has not been without complications. She developed life-threatening sepsis during chemotherapy, spending days in intensive care and weeks in hospital.
Despite the ordeal, Clara is determined to defy the odds. She said: “I used to live in fear every day that it was my last.
“I was so scared of dying and felt like it was inevitable in the near future.
“However, once I saw scan results that showed treatment was working, it gave me hope and optimism I didn’t have previously.
“I no longer think I’m going to die soon – I have faith I can make it to five years at least.”
Despite the terrifying news, Clara has managed to maintain a positive attitude (Image: Jam Press/@C_Cirks)
Once a fitness enthusiast, Clara has been forced to swap running for gentler hobbies such as yoga and cycling while she continues her recovery.
She now lives with her dad, who helps care for her, and has found new purpose in raising awareness, hoping to use her story to advocate for early diagnosis and cancer research.
While her life has been turned upside down, Clara is looking to the future with optimism – with dreams of skydiving, beach holidays and even getting a dog.
She added: “I had so many health issues in 2024 and I wish I would’ve pieced it together more. I wish I would’ve seen my primary care doctor way before I finally did.
She says she wishes she sought help earlier (Image: Jam Press/@C_Cirks)
“I remember thinking how I had so many issues I wanted to address that I didn’t want to be annoying in asking all the questions.
“I’m glad I stood up for myself and advocated for addressing all the problems I had. I would say – you know what is normal for your body.
“So if something is off, or continues to be off, speak up. I was so scared of being ‘annoying’ and bringing a list of issues to discuss with my primary care provider.
“But at the end of the day, I’m glad I said something – said all of it – because it raised red flags that got the process started for diagnosing me.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
