Eleanor Ceres found out she had lung cancer after the tumor spread from her chest and began protruding out her neck.

Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Ceres has been smoking for over 30 years — and smoking causes nearly three-quarters of lung cancer deaths around the world.

Why wasn't she diagnosed earlier? Prior to the tumor's manifestation, her only symptom had been a sore arm, which the doctors chalked up to arthritis. By the time she was diagnosed in April 2024, the cancer had advanced to Stage 4 and was terminal. Doctors could only offer palliative care, easing her pain.

"I've got a child around 12 years old. I want to see her grow up and get married and have her own children," says Ceres, a single mother. "I cry a lot because I'm gonna die and everybody's gonna stay

See Full Page