Editor’s Note: Patient Worthy is honored to share this patient story, submitted to us by Shelly Glenn.

For most of my career, I worked on the other side of cancer. I spent decades in oncology, helping cancer centers grow, advocating for patients, and working alongside physicians, nonprofits, and policymakers to improve access to care. I thought I understood what patients were going through.

Then I became one.

For years, I encouraged community oncology physician liaison teams to promote low-dose lung cancer screening. Yet I never got screened myself. I felt healthy. I had no symptoms, and had no reason to believe anything was wrong.

During an emergency room visit for something unrelated in late 2023, a physician mentioned a tiny spot on my lung. It did not seem urgent, just something to monitor. But in February 2024, follow-up imaging showed that the spot had grown by 20%.

I remember learning that “I had cancer” and feeling the air leave the room. Suddenly, I was not the person helping patients navigate cancer. I was the patient, waiting for answers and wondering what came next and if the surgeon got it all.

This deepened my understanding of what people carry after diagnosis and strengthened my belief that every patient deserves information, support, and advocates in their corner.

As I moved through surgery and recovery, I quickly learned that cancer is not just about the diagnosis. It is also about what comes afterward. Like many patients, I wanted to understand how my care team would monitor for recurrence and help me stay informed about my health in the years ahead. That journey eventually introduced me to tools like Signatera, a personalized blood test designed to detect signs of cancer in the bloodstream.

Lung Cancer Can Happen to Anyone

One of the hardest parts of my diagnosis was how unexpected it felt. I never saw myself as someone who would get lung cancer. That is why the stereotypes surrounding this disease are so dangerous.

Many people still believe lung cancer only affects smokers or people with certain lifestyles. Those assumptions create stigma and can discourage people from being screened, asking questions, or paying attention to changes in their health.

The truth is simple: if you have lungs, you can get lung cancer. I spent my career in oncology and still did not see it coming. That is why awareness, education, and early detection matter.

Choosing Vigilance

My lung cancer was treated surgically only because it was caught early. However, after surgery I sought second opinions from oncology colleagues I trusted. They stressed the importance of monitoring for recurrence, and several recommended Signatera, a personalized blood test I had never heard of.

The test uses information from a patient’s tumor to look for traces of cancer in the bloodstream, often before recurrence may appear on imaging scans. As I learned more, I saw how it could provide another layer of information between scans.

Today, with the guidance of my oncologist, I test every three months. It gives me peace of mind and helps me and my oncologist stay informed about my health. If a test ever comes back positive, I can sit down with my oncologist to discuss next steps. It is not about fear. It is about empowerment.

In 2025, I joined Natera, the company behind Signatera, as a director of national accounts. I now talk about Signatera from two perspectives: as someone who works in oncology and as someone who relies on the test personally.

Survivorship Is an Ongoing Journey

People often think cancer stories have a clear ending: treatment ends, you are cancer-free, and life goes back to normal. But survivorship is rarely that simple. For many of us, it brings new routines, new questions, and a different relationship with our health.

For me, survivorship means regular follow-ups, blood tests every three months, staying educated, and continuing to advocate for myself. Vigilance is not a sign of worry. It is how I protect my future.

The Power of Advocacy

If cancer taught me one thing, it is that your voice matters. Patients can be overwhelmed by information, decisions, and emotions. Some of the most important moments in my journey happened because I spoke up, asked questions, and sought additional perspectives.

My husband, Jack, was my anchor. He sat beside me through difficult conversations, asked hard questions, helped me stay grounded, and reminded me to stay hopeful. My colleagues and my care team also gave me strength and confidence as I moved forward.

If I could tell every patient one thing, it would be this: Ask questions. Seek answers. Trust your instincts. Never underestimate the power of your own voice. Sometimes, advocating for yourself is the most important thing you can do.

For information on lung cancer, visit https://www.lungevity.org/ and https://go2.org/

 For more on personalized cancer monitoring like Signatera, visit https://www.natera.com/info/monitor-cancer.