A Journey of Resilience: Angela Mills’ Story of Strength, Support, and Compassion

Angela Mills, an OB Tech II with Labor and Delivery at UNC Health Wayne, remembers the morning of July 20, 2016, with crystal clarity. It was a day that changed everything.

Despite keeping up with her annual mammograms, Angela discovered a lump during a self-exam at home. That morning, she woke to find blood coming from her breast—an alarming sign that prompted immediate action. She had a mammogram later that day, followed by an ultrasound and biopsy just two days later. Within a week, she received her diagnosis: infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Less than two weeks after that, Angela underwent a mastectomy.

“It all happened so fast,” she recalls. “It made me realize just how short life can be—and how incredibly valuable our time is.”

Throughout her journey, Angela found strength in her circle of support. Her children, her best friend, her teammates, and a remarkable group of women who had already walked the same path were pillars of encouragement. “The support was astronomical,” she says. “The companionship during chemo, the meals, the prayers, the words of encouragement, the shared testimonies—it was all necessary and deeply appreciated.”

Today, Angela brings that same spirit of resilience and empathy into her role in Labor and Delivery. “My experience has made me a more compassionate caregiver,” she explains. “It’s changed how I connect with patients. I’m more focused on providing empathetic, comprehensive, and patient-centered care.”

Angela’s message to others facing a cancer diagnosis is one rooted in hope and determination: “Resilience. We all have it—the strength, the endurance, and the ability to overcome. And remember, you’re never alone. We’re all one big family.”