Keith Bellizzi, PhD, MPH is an American educator, resilience scientist, award winning author, speaker, and four time cancer survivor. Trained in psychology, public health, and human development, he is an international expert in resilience and cancer survivorship. He is author of the ground-breaking Cancer and Aging Handbook, has over 100 peer-reviewed publications, is a sought-after international speaker on resilience and cancer survivorship for both professional and lay audiences.

My Cancer Journey

At the age of 24, shortly out of business school, an accident sent me to the doctors which changed my life forever.  I was diagnosed with metastatic testicular cancer and given a 50-percent chance of survival and no chance of having children because of the fertility harming treatment. A few months later after a routine follow up CT scan for the testicular cancer, I was told they found a mass in my left kidney, which turned out to be an unrelated second cancer – renal cell carcinoma.  As you might imagine, my career and life plans came to an abrupt halt and I was forced to navigate a whole new world.  While my friends were advancing in their careers, getting married, and buying their first home, I spent my time living in the hospital, undergoing several surgeries and aggressive inpatient chemotherapy. My time in the hospital interacting with healthcare providers was a pivotal moment in my life. Having witnessed first-hand how our current healthcare system works (and in some cases, doesn’t work), I recognized some critical gaps in cancer care delivery, and importantly, the lack of psychosocial support that existed for young adult cancer survivors.  

One afternoon, lying in the hospital bed I turned to my family and a very special hospital volunteer worker, and made a vow. If I survived, I would dedicate my life to helping individuals and families adjust to a diagnosis of cancer. Making good on my promise, at the age of 26, I quit my job in business, went back to school, earning three graduate degrees, and completed a three-year fellowship in the preeminent Cancer Prevention and Control Fellows Program and the National Cancer Institute. Currently, I use my education, research, and personal experience with cancer to support, inspire, and empower those dealing with a cancer diagnosis.