Lung cancer in a 23 year old firefighter? I’m a 23M, from California, I’m Latino, 6’1” and 160 lbs who has been a firefighter since the beginning of 2018. Cancer runs in the family and I’ve been exposed to a lot of smoke from wildfires and structure fires- I also used to be an infrequent tobacco user. Starting in 2015 I developed a cough and since becoming a firefighter It’s definitely worsened. I went to the doctor in 2017 about the cough, he told me It was asthma but I’ve never had a problem with catching my breath or feeling like I can’t breathe. When I inhale fully I have a discomfort in the center of my chest as well as my throat.