Category: Uncategorized

Have you ever wanted to ice skate at Rockefeller Center? If so, you’re not alone. But what if balance and coordination escape you the moment you step on the ice? You may need the help of two-time breast cancer survivor Margaret Simonovich. Simonovich, a 76-year-old former professional figure skater originally from Scotland, was first bit…

I had found the lump by myself. There were no other symptoms. All of the doctors I had seen before making an appointment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute told me, “Girls your age don’t get cancer.” I was diagnosed with stage 2 triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma (breast cancer) at the age of twenty-three. I knew my diagnosis would have a large impact on my relationship with…

In 2012 all was grand, or so I thought. I had it all: a fabulous career and a wonderful life in South Florida and a loving marriage. Having led global communications for two of the biggest employers with headquarters in the area, I was well known in the business and philanthropic communities of Dade, Broward,…

A clinical trial at Dana-Farber has kept Sharon DeCosta’s stage IV  metastatic breast cancer stabilized for three years, allowing her a full life of traveling and doting on her three young grandchildren, with a fourth due in December. It may seem odd that DeCosta celebrates the anniversary of her diagnosis each year with a toast, until you…

Most bike accidents don’t lead to a cancer diagnosis, but that’s exactly what happened to me in August 2016. I was 32 years old, and more than half way through a 300-mile bike trip—three days, four states, and 15,000 vertical feet climbed; it was life-changing, in more ways than one. A bike wreck with 100…

On September 7, Stand Up To Cancer’s (SU2C) telecast shared inspiring stories of hope, perseverance, and groundbreaking cancer research to a worldwide audience. This year marks 10 years of SU2C’s incredible support for collaborative, multi-disciplinary research teams and investigators to enable faster scientific breakthroughs. Dana-Farber is proud to have collaborated with SU2C in our shared…

A cancer diagnosis affects every area of a person’s life. The experience is challenging, and many find that their beliefs can be an important way of coping and finding meaning with this new chapter in their lives. That’s where Walter Moczynski, D.Min. and the team at Dana-Farber’s Center for Spiritual Care come in. “What I…

Zach is an energetic four-year-old who has a passion for life, and for playing baseball. In May of 2016, Zach was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is currently being treated at Dana-Farber’s Jimmy Fund Clinic. Due to his cancer treatment, Zach is taking time off from playing baseball this season. He still loves…

In the spring of 2017, while working as a speech-language pathologist, I had a home visit with a 2-year-old. The client’s mom and I got to chatting, and she opened up about her recent struggle with stage IV ovarian cancer. I left their house and sat in my car for several minutes processing all she…