California Mom Gets Diagnosed With Stage 4 Lung Cancer Despite Active Lifestyle and Not Smoking

A California mom had stage 4 lung cancer due to her persistent cough. She could not believe how she got the illness because she never smoked her entire life.

Tabitha Paccione told TODAY that she has an active lifestyle and does not smoke. Apart from that, she also has no history of cancer. Paccione developed a cough in 2015, and it never went away. The elementary school teacher thought that she only caught a bug from one of her students.

Hearing the words "lung cancer"

The 35-year-old mom told the outlet that she remembered her mind went completely blank after hearing the words "lung cancer" in her doctor's office. She shared that that was one moment in her life when she was overcome with fear and heartbreak that made her blackout.

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(Photo: Facebook/Tabitha Jebananthan-Paccione)

Paccione decided to enjoy time with her family, although she felt scared, worried, and sad. Her lung cancer journey has helped her and her family realize that time is short. They learned that they have to make the best out of whatever time they have.

The California mom said that doctors told her she would only live for three to six months. Thankfully, in October, she celebrated living for four years since her diagnosis. She explained that no one deserves to have lung cancer, whether you smoke or not.

It started from a persistent cough

Due to her persistent cough in 2015, Paccione had undergone a chest X-ray. The doctor gave her some cough medicine and antibiotics because he thought she had bronchitis. She seemed to get better, but the cough returned.

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This time, the doctor gave her an inhaler and steroids, thinking it could be due to allergy. However, her condition worsened, so the doctor checked her up again. The doctor diagnosed her with acid reflux.

Then, she noticed that she lost energy fast too. Other than that, Paccione also started having back pains and having trouble exercising. Doctors told her she could have pulled a muscle. However, she knew there was more to that.

How she learned of her cancer

Finally, she went to a neck surgeon who told her she could have thyroid cancer. The doctor checked her nodule only to find out it was benign. That was when Paccione learned she has a mass in her left lung that is five centimeters.

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Soon, she also learned that non-small cell cancer had metastasized to her bones. Her cancer in the vertebra had caused her back to ache. The cancer had already weakened her bones, which caused her hips to break. Doctors found 29 lesions in her brain, and some had already spread to her lymph nodes.

Oral chemotherapy has helped her to go back to teaching. But Paccione needs to take it regularly to avoid spreading cancer more. She believes that teaching has been a part of her healing.

The California mom-of-two also created memories together by taking epic road trips. Her 12-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, organized a cancer awareness week at school, which has helped Paccione live her life to the fullest.