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Lisa

A black woman wearing a black t-shirt and chain necklace, taking a selfie in her home.

Lisa was five years old when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Now she serves as a mentor for families of children with cancer.

Credit: National Cancer Institute

Childhood Cancer Survivor

“Keep the faith and keep on pushing,” is Lisa’s (she/her) advice to others diagnosed with childhood cancer. Lisa was five years old when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after several doctors’ visits. While most kids were going to school and hanging out with friends, Lisa was receiving chemotherapy and total body radiation for her disease. The medical team worked to provide every need that Lisa’s family had, often sharing resources and finding ways to make her family more comfortable.

“If it [weren’t] for those nurses and doctors, I wouldn’t be here,” Lisa said.

Improving how childhood cancer data is shared could help medical professionals provide the best care for children with cancer as well as survivors, just as they did for Lisa. Years later, Lisa advocates for individuals going through similar situations and serves as a parent mentor for families with a child with cancer.

Read more about Lisa in a story written by the Office of Cancer Survivorship.

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