From Patient to Physician

Dr. Robert Dilley shares his personal experience with cancer and how it led him to where he is now.

My life suddenly changed when I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia when I was 18 years old.

It was the summer before I was supposed to start college at Johns Hopkins University. I had to defer college for a year and spent most of the next six months in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia receiving chemotherapy on a clinical trial.

I was incredibly lucky to have a supportive family who never left my side and tirelessly advocated for me. I was also fortunate to be treated at a world-class cancer center with unparalleled expertise and access to cutting-edge treatments. This experience was life-altering in many ways, including opening my eyes to the world of cancer research, treatment, and advocacy.

One year later, I was able to start my freshman year of college in Baltimore with a new sense of gratitude and purpose. My personal experience with cancer motivated me to pursue a career in oncology.

Now almost 20 years after my diagnosis, I am a physician-scientist and oncology fellow at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I hope to continue to use my experience and platform to advance our understanding of cancer and develop new therapies.

Whether you are a patient, survivor, caregiver, or loved one touched by cancer, your story can have an enormous impact. You can provide hope and inspiration to someone recently diagnosed with cancer or a patient undergoing therapy.