Young Vaper's Cancer Diagnosis: 18 Months to Live

Kayley Boda, now 22, faces a grim prognosis of 18 months to live after being diagnosed with lung cancer at the young age of 21. Her health struggles began in January 2025 when she started coughing up unusual mucus, a symptom doctors repeatedly attributed to chest infections over eight visits.

By March 2025, Kayley was coughing up blood, leading to an X-ray that revealed a shadow on her right lung. Despite her youth, doctors suspected cancer, and subsequent biopsies confirmed stage one lung cancer in August 2025. She underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of her right lung and lymph nodes, which revealed the cancer had progressed to stage three.

Following chemotherapy, Kayley received an all-clear in February 2026. However, just two months later, she was diagnosed with a pleural effusion, and testing of the fluid confirmed the cancer's return to her lung lining. This rare recurrence has led to her terminal diagnosis.

Kayley, who started vaping at 15, believes disposable vapes contributed to her condition as her symptoms began shortly after switching. She is now raising funds for a clinical trial in Germany and urging others to cease vaping due to its potential dangers.