Mayya's post pregnancy cough was stage 4 lung #cancer | podcast
Oncogene Cancer Research
84,463 views
At 38, Mayya had the dream family, dream career - everything was going to plan. She pregnant with her second child and with no history of smoking, Mayya never expected to hear the words stage 4 lung cancer.
Mayya's second pregnancy felt different. She wasn't hungry, wasn't gaining weight as expected, and after delivery, she developed a persistent cough. She was told it was probably nothing.
As her baby's doctor said, "It's probably nothing is not a diagnosis."
Mayya left a doctor's appointment and drove to urgent care.
Here Mayya shares how she eventually received a lung cancer diagnosis, the shock of discovering metastatic disease through MyChart, and the importance of paying attention when something doesn't feel normal for you.
Mayya also shares what happened when her doctors ordered biomarker testing, how discovering she was ALK-positive changed her treatment options, and why hearing that her ALK result was “the best news” possible under the circumstances gave her a new sense of hope.
Mayya also shares her experience with her targeted therapy, early progression, seeking a second opinion, chemo, and how she has learned to cope with the uncertainty of living with stage 4 ALKlung cancer.
Most importantly, Mayya talks openly about the emotional reality of a diagnosis she never saw coming — raising two young children, facing the fear of not being there as they grow up, finding her patient community, and learning how to make room for both grief and hope.
In this episode
🔹 Why she knew her second pregnancy felt different
🔹 The subtle symptoms that preceded her lung cancer diagnosis
🔹 Why “it’s probably nothing” became a phrase she refused to accept
🔹 How a persistent cough eventually led to an X-ray and CT scan
🔹 What happened when she experienced progression after targeted therapy
🔹 Why Mayya sought a second opinion before changing treatment
🔹 The role of NGS and tissue testing after progression
🔹 Parenting two young children while living with cancer
Chapters:
00:00 — “If you don't go right now, you're going to die”
01:25 — Mayya’s story: pregnant, busy and feeling that something was wrong
02:09 — The pregnancy symptom she knew wasn’t normal for her
04:21 — The cough everyone thought was nothing
06:16 — “It’s probably nothing” is not a diagnosis
07:33 — The moment Mayya knew she had to go back to urgent care
08:27 — Finally getting a CT scan: “There’s a mass in your chest”
11:22 — The doctor who said, “I’m here to find you answers”
12:15 — The PET scan that changed everything
13:23 — Discovering stage 4 lung cancer through MyChart
14:24 — “I’m dead”: Facing a diagnosis she never expected
15:02 — Finding hope instead of doom-scrolling
17:48 — Meeting her oncologist and hearing “not curable, but treatable”
19:27 — Why biomarker testing changed everything
20:24 — Finding out she was ALK-positive
20:53 — “The best news I can give you under the circumstances”
21:22 — Discovering targeted therapy and a new path forward
22:29 — Waiting for the brain MRI results
23:13 — Finding the ALK-positive patient community
Resources:
ALK Positive: www.alkpositive.org
Young Lung Cancer Initiative: www.ylci.org
Read Mayya's full story here: https://www.oncogeneresearch.org/mayy...
Follow Mayya's story:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayybememay...
TikTok: TikTok: mayyapapayya6
What's your biggest challenge with health advocacy? Drop it in the comments!
Patient Voices Podcast shares real stories, insights and hope from people living with lung cancer, alongside caregivers and experts. This series is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors: Amgen, Nuvalent, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Oncogene Cancer Research retains full editorial control over all content. We do not endorse specific treatments nor provide medical advice. Questions and concerns should always be discussed with individual care teams.
=============================================
🔬 Empowering Patients. Championing Advocacy. Advancing Research.
We’re dedicated to improving outcomes for people with oncogene-driven lung cancer through education, support, advocacy and cutting-edge research.
🌐 Learn More: www.oncogeneresearch.org
📲 Let’s Connect!
📸 Instagram: / oncogenecancerresearch
🎵 TikTok: / oncogenecance. .
🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/OncogeneCancer
🌎 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/oncogenecanc...
💼 LinkedIn: / oncogene-cancer-research
💙 Need Support?
If you or a loved one is living with lung cancer, join our private community for connection and resources:
🔗 Join Here: / oncogenecancerresearchprivatecommunity
💡 Fuel the Future of Research
Your support helps advance research for oncogene-driven lung cancer. Donate today: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...
❤️ Make a Difference
#LungCancer #CancerResearch #mutations #PatientAdvocacy Patient Stories | cancer survivor | stage 4 | advocacy
15 Comments
You are helping others in our community feel less alone. We are also here for you and want them best for you.
What's going on! Many young people getting cancer even non smokers.
Something doesn't add up!!
Mayya's post pregnancy cough was stage 4 lung #cancer | podcast
Oncogene Cancer Research
84,463 views
At 38, Mayya had the dream family, dream career - everything was going to plan. She pregnant with her second child and with no history of smoking, Mayya never expected to hear the words stage 4 lung cancer.
Mayya's second pregnancy felt different. She wasn't hungry, wasn't gaining weight as expected, and after delivery, she developed a persistent cough. She was told it was probably nothing.
As her baby's doctor said, "It's probably nothing is not a diagnosis."
Mayya left a doctor's appointment and drove to urgent care.
Here Mayya shares how she eventually received a lung cancer diagnosis, the shock of discovering metastatic disease through MyChart, and the importance of paying attention when something doesn't feel normal for you.
Mayya also shares what happened when her doctors ordered biomarker testing, how discovering she was ALK-positive changed her treatment options, and why hearing that her ALK result was “the best news” possible under the circumstances gave her a new sense of hope.
Mayya also shares her experience with her targeted therapy, early progression, seeking a second opinion, chemo, and how she has learned to cope with the uncertainty of living with stage 4 ALKlung cancer.
Most importantly, Mayya talks openly about the emotional reality of a diagnosis she never saw coming — raising two young children, facing the fear of not being there as they grow up, finding her patient community, and learning how to make room for both grief and hope.
In this episode
🔹 Why she knew her second pregnancy felt different
🔹 The subtle symptoms that preceded her lung cancer diagnosis
🔹 Why “it’s probably nothing” became a phrase she refused to accept
🔹 How a persistent cough eventually led to an X-ray and CT scan
🔹 What happened when she experienced progression after targeted therapy
🔹 Why Mayya sought a second opinion before changing treatment
🔹 The role of NGS and tissue testing after progression
🔹 Parenting two young children while living with cancer
Chapters:
00:00 — “If you don't go right now, you're going to die”
01:25 — Mayya’s story: pregnant, busy and feeling that something was wrong
02:09 — The pregnancy symptom she knew wasn’t normal for her
04:21 — The cough everyone thought was nothing
06:16 — “It’s probably nothing” is not a diagnosis
07:33 — The moment Mayya knew she had to go back to urgent care
08:27 — Finally getting a CT scan: “There’s a mass in your chest”
11:22 — The doctor who said, “I’m here to find you answers”
12:15 — The PET scan that changed everything
13:23 — Discovering stage 4 lung cancer through MyChart
14:24 — “I’m dead”: Facing a diagnosis she never expected
15:02 — Finding hope instead of doom-scrolling
17:48 — Meeting her oncologist and hearing “not curable, but treatable”
19:27 — Why biomarker testing changed everything
20:24 — Finding out she was ALK-positive
20:53 — “The best news I can give you under the circumstances”
21:22 — Discovering targeted therapy and a new path forward
22:29 — Waiting for the brain MRI results
23:13 — Finding the ALK-positive patient community
Resources:
ALK Positive: www.alkpositive.org
Young Lung Cancer Initiative: www.ylci.org
Read Mayya's full story here: https://www.oncogeneresearch.org/mayy...
Follow Mayya's story:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayybememay...
TikTok: TikTok: mayyapapayya6
What's your biggest challenge with health advocacy? Drop it in the comments!
Patient Voices Podcast shares real stories, insights and hope from people living with lung cancer, alongside caregivers and experts. This series is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors: Amgen, Nuvalent, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Oncogene Cancer Research retains full editorial control over all content. We do not endorse specific treatments nor provide medical advice. Questions and concerns should always be discussed with individual care teams.
=============================================
🔬 Empowering Patients. Championing Advocacy. Advancing Research.
We’re dedicated to improving outcomes for people with oncogene-driven lung cancer through education, support, advocacy and cutting-edge research.
🌐 Learn More: www.oncogeneresearch.org
📲 Let’s Connect!
📸 Instagram: / oncogenecancerresearch
🎵 TikTok: / oncogenecance. .
🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/OncogeneCancer
🌎 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/oncogenecanc...
💼 LinkedIn: / oncogene-cancer-research
💙 Need Support?
If you or a loved one is living with lung cancer, join our private community for connection and resources:
🔗 Join Here: / oncogenecancerresearchprivatecommunity
💡 Fuel the Future of Research
Your support helps advance research for oncogene-driven lung cancer. Donate today: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...
❤️ Make a Difference
#LungCancer #CancerResearch #mutations #PatientAdvocacy Patient Stories | cancer survivor | stage 4 | advocacy