Cancer survivor inspires young patients
At age 11, Diana Garcia was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. For the next two years, Garcia was treated at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas with multiple chemotherapy drugs. Today, Garcia is a proud 10-year cancer survivor. Last year, she was chosen as a Hero of Hope for the American Cancer Society. She also has served as a spokesperson and advocate for cancer patients, especially children with cancer.
Since her cancer has been in remission, Garcia has participated in cancer-related causes such as Relay For Life. She recently interned as a patient advocate at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas.
The first generation college student graduated May 15 from Meadows School of the Arts at SMU with a Bachelor's degree in corporate communications and public affairs. She plans to pursue a career in health communications at a nonprofit institution.
"What having cancer and graduating from college has taught me is that I can do things no matter how difficult or impossible they may seem," she says. She plans to attend Boston University in the fall to earn her Master’s degree in health communications.