WWAY’s Donna Gregory details lung cancer battle, remains hopeful for return
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Donna Gregory, a veteran journalist and anchor at WWAY, is facing a challenging health battle after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer earlier this year. Gregory, who joined the WWAY team in 2019, has been a trusted presence on both the evening news and Good Morning Carolina.
Gregory’s diagnosis came in April after months of persistent symptoms, including a cough that wouldn’t subside.
“It was the last thing on my mind,” Gregory said in an interview with GMC anchor Matt Bennett. “I’d never smoked, never lived in a place where I was exposed to radon that I know of, was exposed to secondhand smoke as a kid, but who wasn’t back then?”
Gregory has been consulting with doctors at both the Novant Health Zimmer Cancer Institute in Wilmington and the Duke Cancer Center in Durham. Her treatment plan initially included chemotherapy and immunotherapy, but complications arose shortly after she started the second part of her treatment.
“What we didn’t realize was I’m one of the few people that doesn’t respond well to the immunotherapy,” Gregory explained. “So I couldn’t understand why I was labored breathing, why I couldn’t walk to the door without panting, and then it was starting to get more painful.”
Due to these complications, doctors have shifted her treatment plan, removing immunotherapy in favor of more chemotherapy. However, this adjustment has presented its own challenges, including managing her heart rate during everyday activities.
“The doctors want me to check my heart rate and when I do, it’s over 110,” she said. “And that’s some people’s aerobic rate.”
Gregory has found some relief through Novant’s cardio-oncology rehab program, which has helped her cope with the physical demands of her condition. In the meantime, her family and friends have rallied around her, offering support during this difficult time.
“This has brought my family closer than I might have expected,” Gregory shared. “They are worried about mom. It’s lung cancer, and they say the chances of it completely going away are slim, but people manage it, and people live a long time.”
As for her return to the anchor desk, Gregory remains hopeful but acknowledges the uncertainty of her situation.
“It’s still difficult for me to take a deep breath that’s sustainable for anchoring the news,” she said. “My dream would be for this cancer to be in remission or to be in a stage where it doesn’t affect me as physically as it is now. So hopefully I’ll be able to return, you know, feeling as healthy as I did before.”
In the meantime, Gregory draws strength from the messages of support she’s received from viewers.
“When I see where we live and how beautiful it is, and how kind the people are in this community, it gives me so much hope for my future,” she said.
All cards and messages of support can be sent to 1224 Magnolia Village Way Leland, NC 28451.
To keep up with Donna’s journey, you can follow her on Facebook.
