Home / Health / Endurance Athlete Beats Stage IV Lung Cancer, Completes Ironman Race
Endurance Athlete Beats Stage IV Lung Cancer, Completes Ironman Race
15 Nov
Summary
- Endurance athlete diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in May 2024
- Underwent aggressive treatment, including surgery to remove half his lung
- Completed Ironman 70.3 race just over a year after diagnosis
- Currently has no evidence of disease and remains on immunotherapy
In January 2024, endurance athlete Kevin Humphrey from Michigan began experiencing persistent back pain and coughing. After several tests, he was diagnosed with Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer in May 2024, shocking him as a non-smoker with no family history of the disease.
Doctors at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago identified a driver mutation that was fueling the cancer's growth. This allowed them to develop an aggressive treatment plan combining targeted immunotherapy and chemotherapy. By August 2024, the tumor had shrunk enough for Humphrey to undergo surgery, where doctors removed about half of his left lung.
Despite the uncertainty around his athletic abilities after the surgery, Humphrey remained determined. He signed up for the Ironman 70.3 race, which was scheduled to take place a year and a day after his operation. After a difficult recovery, Humphrey completed the grueling event in just under 5.5 hours in September 2025.
Humphrey's medical situation has continued to improve, with no evidence of disease in his body as of November 2025. He remains on immunotherapy with few side effects and has even run the Chicago Marathon, albeit at a slower pace than before his diagnosis. Humphrey's inspiring journey demonstrates the power of perseverance and the advancements in cancer treatment for young, non-smoking patients.
