In September 2024, Glenda Moore, now 61, had just returned from a dream Mediterranean cruise with her childhood friends and their spouses when she noticed pain in her rib. A longtime flight attendant, she was scheduled to fly again two days later, but the pain was sharp enough for her to call in sick.
“I took some Tylenol and the pain went away,” says Glenda. “But when I woke up the next morning, the pain was even more intense than it was the day before.”
She decided to visit urgent care. That visit changed everything. After reviewing her scans, the provider told her it appeared she had a mass on her lung.
Further scans and a biopsy revealed multiple lung masses. Glenda was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer.
“It had metastasized to my brain, my hips, both lobes in my lungs and the T7 vertebra in my back,” she says.
Finding hope in treatment
Glenda began radiation therapy, including Gamma Knife treatment for her brain tumors.
“Once I had radiation on that T7 bone in my back. It was like I had a whole new lease on life,” she says. “I could sit comfortably.”
The radiation therapy helped shrink the tumors on her brain, spine and lungs. She also began care with Dr. Kathryn Mileham, who prescribed a combination of oral targeted therapy and intravenous chemotherapy.
“I was very, very blessed to find Dr. Mileham,” says Glenda. “I don’t think my outcome would have been the same without her. She’s the greatest cheerleader and has my best interest at heart.”
Glenda was a smoker for years, but the form of lung cancer she has — a non-small cell lung cancer harboring an EGFR mutation in exon 21 — was less likely to be associated with the history of tobacco use.
“That was very surprising to me,” she says.
Adjusting to a new normal
Glenda says the most challenging part of the diagnosis was stepping away from her career as a flight attendant.
“I’ve been a flight attendant for 31 years and now I’ve had to change my entire life,” she says. “It’s too hard on my body with the constant side effects from treatment.”
Now, Glenda receives chemotherapy infusions every three weeks and takes a daily oral medication. While she experiences side effects like fatigue, digestive and sleep issues, she’s grateful for how well the treatment is working.
“I’m feeling good. No pain as of now, but that can always change,” she says. “I wish I could do more things, but I still travel, walk and exercise. I do what makes me happy.”
Becoming an advocate
Glenda has found purpose in lung cancer awareness advocacy and education. She’s active with LiveLung, attends conferences like the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and works to raise awareness about lung cancer screenings.
“The advocacy work is the best thing that could have ever happened with this journey,” she says.
Screening is something Glenda wishes she’d known more about, especially considering she was a candidate for them because of her smoking history.
“If they had screened me years ago, I wouldn’t be sitting here — I’d be working,” she says. “I’d be in Paris or some fabulous destination right now.”
Mileham agrees that more awareness of lung cancer screening is essential.
“Low-dose CT lung cancer screenings can reduce the death rate by as much as 20% by catching the disease at earlier stages when it’s more likely to be curable,” says Mileham.
Currently, nearly half of lung cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage and up to 20% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer already have metastasis to the brain when diagnosed.
“Listen to your body,” says Mileham. “Advocate for your health.”
Current guidelines recommend screening for lung cancer if you:
- Are between the ages of 50 and 80.
- Have a 20 or more pack-year smoking history (meaning one pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years or two packs of cigarettes per day for 10 years, etc.).
- Currently smoke or used to smoke.
“If you have questions about lung cancer screening, talk with your provider to learn more, and determine if a CT scan is warranted,” says Mileham. “If you currently smoke, talk with your provider about different techniques to help with cessation. Quitting smoking, even after a diagnosis of lung cancer, is associated with an improvement in survival, including in those diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.”
Living her life to the fullest
Glenda knows how isolating a cancer diagnosis can feel.
“You do not want to be alone on this new journey; you need all the support and love you can get from friends and family because it is a very lonely and hard road to go down by yourself,” she says, “I want to spread the word to check on your neighbors and see how they’re doing. Just let them know you’re thinking about them.”
She focuses on staying active, creative and connected, enjoying hobbies like traveling, crafting and acting.
“You could sit and be depressed and not do anything, but that’s not me,” she says. “I’m getting out and doing things. I’m still traveling the world. I’m going to be the best I can be.”
Glenda still has many goals she’d like to accomplish.
“I want to write a book about my life and tell my story before I leave this world,” she says. “I’d like to continue to travel to places I haven’t been to with my husband, family and friends. I want to be with my friends and family and enjoy life as much as I can.”
Above all, she’s determined to keep fighting.
“I’ve got a family and I’m not willing to throw in the towel,” she says. “I have a husband, a 26-year-old daughter and siblings. I have a beautiful home. I’ve got my whole life to live.”
Mileham reflects on the progress Glenda has made.
“When Glenda was diagnosed, we had early data demonstrating that a combination treatment regimen would provide additional benefit, given the complex tumor biomarker information and the cancer metastasis distribution,” she says. “Although she was hesitant, Glenda trusted the team and believed in the opportunity. Now, one year into her treatment, we have published data confirming that the treatment regimen not only delays the cancer progression, but also significantly improves survival on average by nearly another year when compared with the previous standard of care.”
Glenda’s message to others
Glenda hopes her experience encourages others to learn about lung cancer screening and to prioritize their health.
“I want to make sure everybody knows what their options are,” she says. “My job is to make sure everybody I know who has been around smokers or who has smoked in the past goes and gets checked. You owe it to yourself. Go get screened.”
Learn more about lung cancer care at Atrium Health Levine Cancer.
