Kelly Tallarida

“Cancer shaped who I am. Survivorship has been part of my identity for nearly half of my life, and it continues to guide how I live with perspective, resilience, and purpose.”

In 2006, Kelly Tallarida was a 19-year-old college student. For more than a year she had been experiencing worsening, unexplained symptoms, including jaw and head pain, numbness, and vision changes. “Because I was young, many doctors assumed it couldn’t be serious,” she says. “I was misdiagnosed multiple times before imaging finally revealed a tumor…. Even then, I was initially told it was benign.” Kelly ultimately learned she had malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) of the head and neck, a rare soft tissue sarcoma, originating from the largest cranial nerve in the brain. “I was in disbelief. My head was spinning. I was angry, confused, and upset all at once. I felt like my body was betraying me.”

Even more critical to Kelly’s diagnosis, the cancer had metastasized, with tumors protruding from her neck. She underwent surgery to remove the visible tumors in her brain and neck and also had 66 lymph nodes taken out. “Shortly after surgery, I turned 20 and began eight rounds of intense chemotherapy followed by radiation to the neck, all during my undergraduate college studies,” she says.

Kelly struggled with facing such grueling treatment during a pivotal period in her life: “That time when you’re supposed to be figuring out who you are and who you want to become. I questioned whether staying in college even made sense, since I wasn’t sure if I would survive.”

To help her through the toughest days, Kelly kept a journal, which she had begun immediately after being diagnosed. “Writing in my journal was my go-to. I wrote about my fears, pain, and glimmers of hope,” she describes. “Being able to look back and see what I had already endured encouraged me to keep going. Nearly 20 years later, re-reading that journal still grounds me. It’s a powerful reality check.”

Her faith also played a role, as did family and friends: “My mom and sister were always there for me, and I spent time with friends when I could. Just knowing that people cared helped to lift me up on days when I questioned my ability to persevere.”

Kelly has been cancer-free since completing treatment, and in April of 2026 she celebrated the incredible milestone of 20 years of survivorship. With a master’s degree in social work, she now advises college students navigating academic and personal challenges.  Her cancer journey even played a role in how she met her husband: “My hair was growing back, it was about 5 inches long. RJ noticed me out one night and asked a mutual friend, ‘Who’s the girl with the short hair?’ More than 18 years later, we’re still together and have three beautiful children—a life that at one point I wasn’t sure would be possible.”

She believes that cancer research is critical, particularly for rare cancers such as hers: “Cancer research saves lives. If my oncologist had not been aware of the chemotherapy combination I received, my outcome may have been very different. Ongoing research impacts treatment options and survival rates for various types of cancer.” She adds, “MPNST is an uncommon cancer, and research is limited, but that makes funding and awareness even more important. Cancer research for rare cancers gives patients hope in situations that might otherwise feel hopeless.”

Kelly ends with the advice: “Life does not always go as planned. Try to make the best of each situation you are given. Even on the hardest days, remember you are here for a reason.”

Stand Up To Cancer raises awareness and funds research to detect and treat cancers with the aspiration to cure all patients. Find out how you can get involved.