Meet Gianna Cericola: DSRCT sarcoma survivor

How did your Cancer Journey Begin? 

My journey began in October, 2024 when I was rushed into surgery because I was bleeding internally due to a large tumor inside of my abdomen that had ruptured. I had no idea what was happening and I was so scared. I was then diagnosed with DSRCT sarcoma, a month later at age 27. After waking up from surgery and hearing the words, "you have cancer", my life changed in an instant.

What did your treatment journey look like?

My treatment journey was far from easy, it was grueling. It first consisted of a protocol called the VDC/IE regimen. This chemotherapy alternated between vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (VDC) and ifosfamide and etoposide (IE) every 2 to 3 weeks. I would be admitted to the hospital every time I went in to receive chemo and did 8 total rounds over the course of 6 months. Then I had a surgery called HIPEC, which is a specialized two-step cancer treatment that combines tumor-removal surgery with a heated chemotherapy wash applied directly inside the abdomen. This surgery lasted 14 hours and they removed 411 tumors from my abdomen. I then moved onto radiation after the surgery which consisted of 20 sessions to my entire abdomen and an extra heavy dose to my liver. After that, I completed maintenance chemotherapy over the course of 4 months that consisted of temozolomide and irinotecan. All of this took almost 2 years to complete.

Is there anything you want to mention regarding mental health and cancer and how you dealt with that?

Mental health during and after cancer has been my biggest struggle. Since cancer, I have developed PTSD and the medical trauma from my treatment and surgeries has made a lasting impact on my mental health. Finding a good therapist has been so helpful in my journey and having a good support system is crucial. I also think that it's okay to recognize that you need help and not feel ashamed about it. Taking care of your mental health and putting it first is extremely important.

How did having cancer shift your relationships with friends and family?

Having cancer changed my relationship with friends and family in ways that I never saw coming. Some people I was close to before cancer drifted farther apart, while with others it strengthened our bond. I also met so many cancer patients and survivors since my own diagnosis. They started out as strangers, but now they've become some of the closest people to me. My relationship with my fiance has also changed a lot. He went from being my partner to my caretaker almost overnight and that changes a lot within a relationship. Without him, I wouldn't have made it through as well as I did. I am forever grateful for his love and support. Also, shoutout to my parents because they have helped me in so many ways and I am so thankful for them.

What advice or tips do you have for others facing similar circumstances?

My advice for others going through a similar diagnosis would be to never give up no matter how hard it gets. Never lose hope even when you can't see a way out. There are better days ahead, you just have to get through the storm one day at a time. Lean on your support system as much as you need to and remember you are not a burden. If you can connect with other patients and survivors, that will help you so much.

Is there anything else you wanted to share for this interview?

I wanted to share a message of encouragement for others going through cancer. My life stopped abruptly at 27 when I was finding myself, establishing a career, and thinking about marriage, kids, and a future. For almost 2 years while going through treatment and trying to survive, I had to put everything on pause and that made me so upset. But I'm learning that not everyone has had to go through something so life altering and I need to give myself a lot of grace and learn to be proud of myself. If you feel like you are behind everyone else, you're not. Even though your timeline looks different, that doesn't mean you can't do all the things you want to. You survived and are surviving, and you can still create a meaningful life.