Queensland woman who has never smoked diagnosed with lung cancer for the second time
A Queensland woman was devastated after being told for the second time she has lung cancer.
Ruby Berg, 33, has never smoked a cigarette in her life but last month was given the news her lung cancer has returned.
The Bundaberg social worker was first diagnosed in 2012 and had a lung removed following chemotherapy as the cancer was successfully treated, News Corp reported.
But six years later she returned to her doctor complaining of sickness who confirmed the cancer was back, and this time had spread to her blood and spine.
Despite her bleak situation, Ms Berg is trying her best not let the diagnosis get her down.
"I'm just trying to stay positive and optimistic with everything that's going on," she said.
"But in terms of how I'm feeling, pretty bad and sick, that's the reality."
Ms Berg's condition has deteriorated to the point where she's unable to work due to the excruciating chronic pain.
Her absence from work has left her in a precarious financial position, struggling to make ends meet.
In a bid to help, her second cousin Sami Whitby has reluctantly set up a GoFundMe page with nowhere left to turn.
"We've started the Gofundme page because she still has to pay rent... she doesn't want the help but she's got no choice," Ms Whitby said.
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To make matters worse, Ms Whitby claimed she had been unable to rely on insurance through her superannuation fund due to her pre-existing cancer claim from her first diagnosis.
Ms Berg has been given just months to live by her doctors but after being given just a year when receiving her first diagnosis in 2012, she is remaining optimistic.
"Who knows what the future will hold, it's going to be a bit of a process but we will see," she said.
Ms Whitby said the GoFundMe page was not only to raise funds for Ms Berg, but to raise awareness of the condition and dispel the misconceptions about what causes the cancer.
So far the page has raised $2,180 of its targeted $20,000. Ms Berg has thanked the people of Queensland for their continued and "quite amazing" support.
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