Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of former President John F. Kennedy, recently shared a heartfelt essay about her battle with terminal cancer. Just after giving birth to her second child, she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), an aggressive cancer that attacks the blood and bone marrow. She wrote in The New Yorker that doctors told her she may have less than a year to live.
In her essay, “A Battle With My Blood,” Tatiana revealed her shock at being diagnosed. She always considered herself one of the healthiest people. Doctors identified the illness after finding a high white blood cell count following her daughter’s birth. This diagnosis took her and her family by surprise, showing that even seemingly healthy individuals can be faced with serious illnesses.
AML is rare, impacting about four in 100,000 adults each year. Tatiana’s specific type, due to a rare chromosomal abnormality, is even less common, affecting only 1-2% of those with AML. Experts like Dr. Vijay Sankaran from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute point out that this type of cancer can escalate rapidly, making early detection challenging.
The treatments for AML usually involve chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants, and research trials. Tatiana has explored all these. She detailed the painful processes she has endured, including losing her hair and undergoing a stem cell transplant using cells from her sister. Additionally, she participated in a clinical trial using CAR-T cell therapy, an advanced immunotherapy. However, experts caution that while this treatment has been effective for some cancers, it shows limited success with AML.
While dealing with her diagnosis, Tatiana expressed concern over recent funding cuts in cancer research. Her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been reducing budgets for crucial research, including funding for mRNA vaccine technologies that could benefit cancer treatment. Jeff Coller, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, highlighted the fear among researchers to propose new trials involving such technologies due to these cuts.
Tatiana’s personal experience illustrates a larger issue: despite having access to top medical care, the struggle against cancer remains immense. As Dr. Sankaran notes, the current tools and treatments for AML are insufficient, underscoring the pressing need for increased funding and research to develop better options for all patients.
This situation highlights a critical point in healthcare: advancements in treatment often depend on consistent support for scientific research. More robust funding could lead to breakthroughs that can change the landscape for many battling cancer beyond just those in notable families, making a significant impact on public health.
