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Judge Audrey Moran is known for her strength and fairness in the courtroom in Florida's Duval county. But one of the most difficult cases she's faced is breast cancer that spread to the lining of her brain.
With the help of a dedicated care team and precise treatment, Judge Moran is back on the bench, and recent scans show something remarkable. Alex Osiadacz (oh-SIGH-dus) has her story.
Watch: Back on the bench: Judge's metastatic breast cancer journey inspires hope
Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:17) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.
"I work as a county court judge."
Judge Moran doesn't shy away from a challenge, whether in her legal career, solving issues in her community or even her health.
"We were treating the metastatic breast cancer in my abdomen about two years ago now. I began noticing that my balance wasn't very good, and then I started limping," she says.
Scans in early 2024 showed the cancer had spread to the lining of her brain and spine. Treatment would pose another challenge after Judge Moran developed an infection where a port would deliver chemotherapy into the lining of her brain.
"I said, 'We're going to have to figure something else out.' My wonderful oncologist, Dr. Pooja Advani, said she thought she had an idea because a new chemo had come out that she thought might be just the right thing for me," she says.
Instead of delivering treatment directly into the lining of her brain, Judge Moran's care team was able to deliver a newly approved therapy through her arm. The results were better than expected.
"The last scan I got of my brain, the results were that the brain cancer has resolved. And I got to tell you, I couldn't even believe it when I read it on my report," Judge Moran says.
"So many emotions but the biggest of gratitude, you know, to all the people that have worked as a part of her team," says Dr. Advani.
Follow-up appointments have confirmed that the treatment is still working for the metastasis in her abdomen. Beyond her diagnosis, Judge Moran remains active with her family and career.
She says, "You know, my life is back. I am at work. And I'm getting to do that work that I love."
In late September, Dr. Advani and Judge Moran had a chance to meet again.
"It almost brought me to tears to have seen how she was in 2024 when she was going through this journey and the remarkable clinical progress that she has made," Dr. Advani says.
Judge Moran adds, "I'd gotten to the point where I almost didn't want to try anything anymore, and she really helped me realize this wasn't the time to give up. It was time to keep going. And boy, I'm glad I did. I'm really, really glad I did."
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