Teen Overcomes Hodgkin's Lymphoma Twice and Graduates as Nurse
Alayna Riozzi-Bodine was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma, beat the disease, faced a relapse, and completed a nursing degree while remaining cancer-free.
In September 2021, 17-year-old Alayna Riozzi-Bodine was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma, prompting chemotherapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where she became the first pediatric patient to use a cold cap to avoid hair loss. She responded well, completed eight chemo sessions, and was declared cancer-free during her freshman year of college. Less than a year later, a scan detected a small abnormality; a biopsy confirmed a more aggressive recurrence, leading her to forgo the cold cap, shave her head, and undergo immunotherapy, additional chemo, and a stem-cell transplant.
The transplant, supported by a celebratory care team, succeeded, and after finishing treatment in July 2024 she rang the hospital bell and remained cancer-free in follow-up scans. Riozzi-Bodine earned a nursing degree, is pursuing pediatric oncology nursing credentials, and heads the Alayna Jayne Foundation, which supports teens navigating cancer care.
Why it matters
The story highlights advances in teen cancer treatment, survivorship, and patient advocacy.
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