Cancer Center Patient Stories

When Aaron was 4, he was suddenly diagnosed with a brain tumor and had to undergo seven months of arduous treatment. His family will never forget the teams in neurosurgery, oncology, nursing and child life — and the Phillies and their South Jersey community — all of whom lifted Aaron up throughout his journey at CHOP.

With a genetic disorder that increases her risk of developing tumors, Ellie is seen regularly at the Cancer Predisposition Program.

Levy traveled from Brazil and participated in a clinical trial for an oral drug that targeted a specific genetic change in his tumor.

While Julia’s diagnosis of a brain tumor was a shock to her family, the location and type of tumor meant surgery at CHOP was the only treatment she needed.

When she was 12, Maddie was very active — in particular, she practiced gymnastics several hours a day. But stomach pains and weight loss signaled the start of a challenging medical journey for her and her family. 

Diagnosed with leukemia at 3 months old, Asa received a revolutionary therapy that was pioneered at CHOP.

As a newborn, Ellie spent time in CHOP’s NICU. When she developed symptoms that led to a cancer diagnosis, the family knew that CHOP was the right place for care.

Genetic sequencing revealed that Rafi had an extremely rare, often fatal disease — and the discovery was amazingly made before he had serious symptoms.

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month. Devon underwent surgery, chemotherapy and proton therapy for a brain tumor the size of a softball. Within months, she started college and made the Dean’s List.  

After multiple rounds of chemotherapy couldn’t wipe out Johnny’s cancer, he came to CHOP and received two versions of CAR T-cell therapy.