Taking a break from the travel news of the day, I found out that Jovita Moore — who has been the primary evening anchorwoman for WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News in Atlanta since 2012 — has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer which is difficult to cure.
Local Atlanta News Anchor Has Aggressive Form of Brain Cancer
Moore — who is 53 years old — has been officially diagnosed with glioblastoma, which “can be very difficult to treat and a cure is often not possible”, according to the official Internet web site of the Mayo Clinic. “Treatments may slow progression of the cancer and reduce signs and symptoms.”
Not wanting to appear on camera, Moore sent an audio message to the television station for the public to hear: “I just want to say a quick thank you. Thank you for your cards, thank you for all the gifts, and most importantly, thank you for your prayers and positive energy. I feel all of it. I’m home now, I’m up and about and doing everything my doctors tell me to do. So for now, I need to be here to focus on my health. I’m surrounded by my family, a very small circle of friends, but also your extended love and support. This journey for me started with an unusual headache so if something’s not right with you, I urge you to please get yourself checked.”
You can read more about Jovita Moore — who underwent surgery in April days after doctors discovered the masses — and her battle against glioblastoma over the past three months in this article written by members of the staff at WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News in Atlanta.
More Information About Glioblastoma
“Glioblastomas (GBM) are tumors that arise from astrocytes — the star-shaped cells that make up the ‘glue-like,’ or supportive tissue of the brain”, according to this article from the American Brain Tumor Association. “These tumors are usually highly malignant (cancerous) because the cells reproduce quickly and they are supported by a large network of blood vessels.”
The odds of surviving glioblastoma are not good. “For adults with more aggressive glioblastoma, treated with concurrent temozolamide and radiation therapy, median survival is about 14.6 months and two-year survival is 30%. However, a 2009 study reported that almost 10% of patients with glioblastoma may live five years or longer.”
Summary
This story is personal to me for two reasons.
First, even though Jovita Moore and I are not friends — we only met once and she likely does not remember meeting me — one of the things she told me during a discussion we had at the television studio was that she is originally from Queens when she found out that I was originally from Brooklyn; and there was a connection of sorts at that moment. Finding out about a dangerous health condition of someone you know or met is definitely different than simply hearing about it in the news about someone you have never met.
Second, the name of the disease immediately sounded familiar to me when I read it: Kevin Pinto — who used to work for Delta Air Lines and was beloved by many members of the frequent flier community — lost his life at 61 years of age on Saturday, October 8, 2016 after fighting brain cancer for greater than three years. He was also officially diagnosed with glioblastoma. You can read more about Kevin Pinto in this article at The Gate which is dedicated to his memory.
Meanwhile, if you are interested in supporting Jovita Moore, she asks that you consider donating to Our House Atlanta and The National Brain Tumor Society, which are two organizations that are very important to her.
You can leave your well wishes and prayers for Jovita Moore here; or you can send a card to Jovita Moore at the following address:
WSB-TV
1601 West Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones of Jovita Moore — who is currently undergoing radiation and chemotherapy to slow the growth of the aggressive cancer — and may she beat the odds and recover back to completely good health.
