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For Patients & Families

Patient Stories

  • pediatric patient Bridgette

    Every year, thousands of children, teens, and adults with cancer, along with parents, siblings, family and friends, visit Dana-Farber, bringing with them inspiring stories of struggle, strength, hope, and perseverance.

    Below, some of them share their experiences.

    About Our Patient Stories

    Dana-Farber shares patient stories which may include descriptions of actual medical results. Dana-Farber provides personalized care for each patient based on their unique needs; their experiences and results will vary.

  • Meet Some of Our Adult Patients

    Bill Ross is the first Dana-Farber patient to receive an autologous stem cell transplant for myeloma as an outpatient.
    Insight Blog
    6/8/2023

    Patient is First at Dana-Farber to Undergo Outpatient Stem Cell Transplant for Myeloma 

    • Patient Stories, Adult
    • Stem Cell/Bone Marrow Transplant
    • Multiple Myeloma
    • Blood Cancer
    Cancer survivor Susanne Greelish (right) came to Dana-Farber for breast cancer treatment in 2018 at the suggestion of her friend and business partner Laurie Peck (left), who now works in Human Resources at Dana-Farber.
    Insight Blog
    6/6/2023

    For Breast and Kidney Cancer Survivor, Ongoing Care is Sweet  

    • Patient Stories, Adult
    • Breast Cancer
    Chef and food stylist Elle Simone Scott, TV host of "America's Test Kitchen", was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Sept. 2016 and is receiving ongoing treatment at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center. Photo Credit: Elle Simone Scott. Hair: Jen Tawa. Makeup: Luiz Filho.
    Insight Blog
    5/15/2023

    Living with Recurrent Ovarian Cancer, Celebrity Chef Writes a New Recipe 

    • Patient Stories, Adult
    • Ovarian Cancer
    • Gynecologic Cancer
    Former stand-up comedian Valerie Frank was diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2018 and in 2022 with metastatic breast cancer.
    Insight Blog
    5/8/2023

    Finding Reason to Laugh with Metastatic Breast Cancer 

    • Patient Stories, Adult
    • Metastatic Breast Cancer
    • Breast Cancer
    Abigail Myers (right) and her family.
    Insight Blog
    4/26/2023

    Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer, Mother is Given a Chance to Raise Her Son 

    • Patient Stories, Adult
    • Susan F. Smith Center
    • Metastatic Breast Cancer
    • Breast Cancer
    Insight Blog
    4/25/2023

    Clinical Trial Offers Lessons for Patient and Researchers 

    • Research
    • Patient Stories, Adult
    • Stem Cell/Bone Marrow Transplant
    Cuadra (right) with his girlfriend, Abby, in Colorado.
    Insight Blog
    4/18/2023

    Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Patients Advocate Education and Early Screening 

    • Patient Stories, Adult
    • Colon Cancer
    • Gastrointestinal Cancer
    Chuck Stravin (standing, upper right) and wife Liz (kneeling, in black) celebrate the big day with daughters MaryBeth, Meghan, and Colleen (in red, left to right), daughter and son-in-law Kayla and Jimmy McMahon (center), and family goldendoodle Quinn Stravin.
    Insight Blog
    4/4/2023

    Father with Stage IV Kidney Cancer Enjoys Wedding of a Lifetime

    • Patient Stories, Adult
    • Kidney Cancer
    • Genitourinary Cancer
    Joshua Kraft, president of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation Photo Credit: New England Patriots
    News Releases
    3/29/2023

    Joshua Kraft advocates for prostate cancer screening as he announces he has been treated for the disease

    • Patient Stories, Adult
    • Prostate Cancer

  • Meet Some of Our Pediatric Patients

    Todd Schwartz at Fenway, 2002.
    Insight Blog
    8/18/2022

    ‘I’m Prouder Than Ever’: A Mom Reflects on Her Son’s Legacy

    • Patient Stories, Pediatric
    Sara Almheiri (center) at a May 2022 check-up at the Jimmy Fund Clinic with her oncologist Alison O’Neill (left) and nurse practitioner Casey Wall (right).
    Insight Blog
    6/7/2022

    Pediatric Neuroblastoma Patient Takes Long Road to Care

    • Patient Stories, Pediatric
    • Neuroblastoma, Childhood
    Jack Berry (second from right) on the beach with family.
    Insight Blog
    3/10/2022

    Teenage Osteosarcoma Survivor Eyes 2026 Paralympics

    • Survivorship
    • Patient Stories, Pediatric
    • Osteosarcoma
    • Bone Cancers
    Jessica Manrique and her daughter, Cinthia, who was treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia using precision medicine.
    Insight Blog
    2/3/2022

    Pediatric Leukemia Patient Takes LEAP to Remission on Precision Medicine Trial

    • Patient Stories, Pediatric
    • Leukemias, Childhood
    Insight Blog
    1/19/2022

    A Decade Later, Pediatric Cancer Survivor Shares His Experience

    • Survivorship
    • Patient Stories, Pediatric
    • Coping with Cancer
    Rosemary Iwakura.
    Insight Blog
    1/12/2022

    Pediatric Patient with Leukemia in Remission after Treatment and Transplant

    • Patient Stories, Pediatric
    • Leukemias, Childhood
    An image describing the making of a CAR T-cell attack. CAR T-cell therapy is a type of treatment in which a patient's T cells (a type of immune system cell) are changed in the laboratory so they will attack cancer cells.
    Insight Blog
    1/6/2022

    Pediatric Patient with Rare Leukemia in Remission after Novel Treatment

    • Patient Stories, Pediatric
    • Leukemias, Childhood
    Tara with her oncologist, Jonathan Marron, MD, MPH.
    Insight Blog
    12/17/2021

    Surviving Stem Cell Transplant: New Hope When the Donor Isn’t a Full Match

    • Stem Cell/Bone Marrow Transplant, Childhood
    • Patient Stories, Pediatric
    • Leukemias, Childhood
    Insight Blog
    9/29/2021

    Pleuropulmonary Blastoma: Caring for Cal

    • Patient Stories, Pediatric