Woman who has never smoked diagnosed with incurable lung cancer

'The only thing I have to focus on is staying well. Yes, I’ve been unlucky, but I’ve been lucky in other aspects of my life'

Alisha Barnett was diagnosed with stage four advanced lung cancer after visiting her doctor with a persistent cough (Alisha Barnett/Twitter)

An inspirational woman has spoken of her positive outlook on life after she was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer, having never smoked.

Alisha Barnett, 28, from South London, told The Sun that she is not angry or depressed about her condition – because she has so much fulfilment in her life.

Ms Barnett, who was athletic and very healthy before her diagnosis, was told she had stage four advanced lung cancer after going to her doctor with a persistent cough last December.

Although she has never smoked, it was discovered that Ms Barnett has a very rare mutation of a particular gene which caused the cancer.

Doctors have told her that it is difficult to determine how long she has to live, but others in the same position have survived for 10 years.

She will need to undergo chemotherapy for the rest of her life.

But despite the diagnosis, Ms Barnett said she does not want to dwell on it or feel sorry for herself as she has much to celebrate in her life, including marrying her partner, Jon Douglas, next week.

“Angry is not how I am feeling. I don't know what I can be angry be about,” she told The Sun.

“In fact, I try not to focus on it. I don’t think about it.

“I’m quite lucky. I don’t have money or relationship worries. I have friends and family who care about me. If I am tired they notice.

“The only thing I have to focus on is staying well. Yes, I’ve been unlucky, but I’ve been lucky in other aspects of my life.

“I don’t want to be depressed. People have a lot worse.”