This picture was taken after Thanksgiving 2024, when our mom was diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma and an EGFR genetic mutation.
My dad is a lung cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with the same type of adenocarcinoma 29 years ago and underwent two years of chemotherapy and two lobectomies. Dad is a retired doctor, and Mom is a retired nurse executive.
I am the second eldest daughter of four sisters, and we each work in the health care industry. We want to share our story to raise awareness about the growing number of Asian women and Filipinos who have this lung disease, and to encourage others to get educated and tested.
My sisters and I want to learn more about how to help others through our experience as we support our mom, who is currently taking a daily pill to treat her cancer. My parents live with me and my family in Florida, and I’ve left my career to care for them during this time.
Life is precious and time is short. We are doing all we can to make their lives easier, more comfortable and safe. I would like to share our story and make a positive impact on the health of others. With both parents having had lung cancer—and now a distant cousin recently diagnosed with the same disease—we hope to help others learn more and receive treatment earlier than our parents did.
We are so grateful the daily pill has been an option and that it has been effective for the past four months. We are especially thankful that Mom hasn’t had to endure the same chemotherapy our dad went through.
