What a Non-Smoker's Lung Cancer Diagnosis Taught Her
Stage IV lung cancer struck Millie when she was only 43, even though she never smoked. Read her story about how the experience turned her world upside down.
Millie Torchia remembersthat day in Summer 2017 clearly: It was the day she found out that thecoughshe couldn’t seem to kick wasn’t a symptom of pneumonia, but of stage IV lung cancer. The 43-year-old mother of three had never smoked and had rarely been sick beyond a cold. Upon hearing the diagnosis, she felt as if heat were rising through her body, and her world flipped upside-down.
Torchia, a vice president in the financial industry, had no risk factors for lung cancer — and in addition to not smoking, she doesn’t drink, and she eats healthy foods.
“If it can happen to me, it can happen to everyone,” she told HealthCentral. “Be really grateful for every day you have and appreciate it, because you just don’t know when things might change.”
Torchia spoke with HealthCentral about her journey with cancer and becoming a lung cancer awareness advocate. She shares her story in part to remind people that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer, regardless of smoking status.
HealthCentral (HC): As a non-smoker, did you ever consider the possibility that you could get lung cancer?
Millie Torchia：No. I never did. I never thought that a person who didn’t smoke would get lung cancer. I was shocked to hear the news. When I heard it, I said, “How could that be? I don’t smoke!”
HC: How has the experience changed you?
Torchia:我觉得有时候我在情感上被抛弃了。但它也带来了一些好事。癌症可能非常艰难，但它让我意识到我应该关注的重要性：我的家人，我的孩子，与他们共度时光，并享受他们的那些小时刻。它让我更接近我的丈夫，给我的同事，我的朋友和我的社区。这给你很大的力量 - 你不认为你的力量。它让我更接近上帝......我每天都很感激。这是一份礼物。它应该一直这样，但我从未意识到这一点。
HC: What do you wish people knew about lung cancer?
Torchia:Lung cancer is one of the least funded out of all cancers. Maybe it’s because of the stigma[related to smoking]. But in April 2018, I’m going to the Life and Breath rally in Washington, D.C. We’re going to demand an increase for research funding and represent the 433 Americans who die every day because of this disease. I’m going to go and be part of this; at least it will make me feel better to do something while I can. If there were more money for research, maybe there would be more therapies and options for people like me.
HC：你今年学到了什么可以帮助别人在你的位置？
Torchia:Be aware[that]基因组测试[可以完成后lung cancer diagnosis], because knowing your mutation can help. When I went to my first oncologist, he didn’t know about that. I have the ALK positive mutation.
还，有一点帮助我is a Facebook group for people with that ALK positive mutation. It makes you realize how many people are going through this journey, of all backgrounds and all ages. I’ve met a lot of moms like me — younger even. The group has really helped me because it’s made me share my experience, and hear about other people going through it. When I first found out I had cancer, I thought I was the only mom who was 43 who had this.
HC: What has been the hardest part of your diagnosis?
Torchia:I have three daughters who are 9, 8, and 4. Besides getting the shock[of the diagnosis]，我对他们担心。I think that I’m fine with everything that happened to me, but it just breaks my heart into a million pieces when I think about the pain that I can give them if they don’t have me to go to things at school and activities, and they won’t have me by their side. That’s what just kills me inside. They are the ones who give me the biggest strength to go on. I get up every morning, grateful for everything that I have and fighting to be optimistic. But sometimes it’s very painful.
Interview has been condensed and edited.
