Cancer Center Patient Stories

In December 2006, Shanna was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She tells how the experience profoundly impacted her life, and what she’s learned from her fight.

Sultan traveled from the Middle East after his parents learned about Dr. Jay Storm’s expertise in pediatric brain tumors.

Mark was diagnosed with a pediatric brain tumor when he was three years old and began treatment at CHOP. Now an eighth grader, he tells the story of his fight with cancer.

Trish Cartafalsa noticed that her 2-year-old, Ryan, was having problems with balance. Days later, he was having a pediatric brain tumor removed at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Diagnosed with germinoma, a type of pediatric brain tumor, Mikayla benefited from proton therapy, an advanced form of radiation treatment offered at CHOP.

Diagnosed with a brain tumor, 11-year-old Stephany and her family traveled from Brazil to Philadelphia for proton therapy treatment.

In September 2012, 13-year-old Callum’s neck became swollen and lumpy. After appointments with doctors and specialists, Callum was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.

During Justin’s ALL treatment at CHOP, he and his parents participated in a research study about the Cellie Cancer Coping Kit, a unique tool to support and educate kids with cancer.

International patient Laila LeClerc came to CHOP from her home in Canada for proton therapy to treat extrarenal rhabdoid tumor, a rare and aggressive cancer.