A Survivor and Patient Advocate Reflects on Beating Cancer Twice

Daniel Jernazian, a two-time cancer survivor, shares what shaped his journey through illness and recovery.

After being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at just 11 years old, Daniel Jernazian turned his cancer experience into a lifelong mission of hope and advocacy. In a CURE video interview, he reflected on how that first diagnosis in 2003 shaped his identity, ultimately leading to his role as Make-A-Wish Australia’s first Young Ambassador.

To young survivors or newly diagnosed individuals, Jernazian offers advice grounded in positivity, faith and self-belief. “Think about how far you’ve come,” he said. “Use every bit of strength in your life — mental, emotional, spiritual — to push forward.”

CURE: Looking back to your first diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma in 2003, what do you remember most about how that experience shaped you as a young person?

Jernazian: It was a very shocking experience, especially being so young. At the time, I was 11 years old. It was like a bomb had literally dropped into my life and our family. During that time, I have a lot of great memories, and bad ones. Great because I had the support of my family. It really enabled me to learn more about myself and what I’m capable of, to go through different challenges physically, emotionally and mentally.

At the same time, of course, there were all the physical challenges and all the appointments with doctors and nurses and hospitals. When I look back now, I feel it really has turned me into the man that I am today, very proud, happy, healthy and health conscious. I feel it was a life challenge that I had to go through so that my future could be as great as it is today. That’s how I look back at it.

You shared that meeting Michael Jordan through "Make-A-Wish" was a dream come true. How did that moment impact your outlook during treatment?

Yep, actually, it was a bit of a surprise. It’s quite a long story as to how that happened, and it’s all documented in my book "I Made Cancer Cry Twice." Long story short, meeting Michael Jordan happened after I was cured from Hodgkin lymphoma. That was in April 2005.

I got to fly to Chicago and meet him there with the family. It was one of the greatest experiences, as you can imagine. He’s someone I’ve looked up to as an idol for so long, copying his moves on the basketball court. I still remember meeting him — his hand was as big as a baseball mitt, and he was as tall as a tower. You needed a ladder just to see his face because I was so small at the time. But it was a really amazing experience. He has a great aura and is one of those people who’s just very recognizable. It was definitely a dream come true.

What motivated you to step into the role of ambassador and spokesperson for Make-A-Wish, and how did advocacy help in your healing journey?

Yeah, I actually wasn’t sure if I should be an ambassador at the time. I had no media experience, no presentations or speeches. But Make-A-Wish was very supportive, especially Make-A-Wish Australia, which is the organization I worked with over so many years. They were very supportive through the process. They said it would be a great opportunity to share my story and help people across the nation.

I was very excited about that, especially thinking about the other kids; that was very important. Kids going through life-threatening illnesses and journeys all the time. I wanted to raise awareness and also help generate donations to support them. That was the biggest reason I accepted the role.

Having survived both Hodgkin lymphoma and thyroid cancer, how did facing cancer a second time compare with your first?

It was quite scary because it happened during the height of COVID, and that was a big shock. I had to go through it completely alone. My family wasn’t allowed to attend my major surgery, the recovery, or any part of the process. Compared to the first time, when I had my family around me a lot, this was very different. Yet again, I took it as another challenge, something I had to go through, and this time on my own.

It was a way to reassure myself that I am capable of surviving, which I did. It was definitely a very different experience, and the whole COVID situation made it even more worrying. But I got through it, and I’m very thankful and blessed to have made it, and to still be here today.

In your memoir "I Made Cancer Cry Twice," what message do you hope resonates most with others going through their own diagnosis?

To not be afraid and to have the courage to stand up and face cancer. To make sure that cancer knows you will get your respect one way or another. There are a lot of quotes I mention in my book. Some are even from movies, like "The Karate Kid," where Mr. Miyagi says, "It’s okay to lose to the opponent, but must not lose to fear," or like in "The Shawshank Redemption," where the letter reads, "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." That kind of mindset is what I’ve instilled. I think anyone who’s going through cancer or who has survived cancer shouldn’t be afraid. They’ve been given the chance to live, to go through that challenge, to overcome it. That experience will help them later in life, because they can look back and say, "I did that." They’re the king or queen of their own kingdom. They’ve overcome such a shocking, life-threatening, and life-changing experience. Hopefully they can always remember that, and that memory will give them motivation moving forward, for themselves and their family.

You’ve worked alongside sports legends and raised awareness for children with critical illness. How did your passion for sports play a role in your survivorship?

Yeah, I was always into sports, especially as a kid. Basketball was the number one sport I played, among others, at school. Over time, I played on different teams and different basketball squads. I think having that sports mentality, of not giving up, of being competitive, really helped. In sports, you can be losing by 20 points, 50 points, or just one point; it doesn’t matter. It’s about having the mindset that you can get through it, that you're going to do your best.

Having a great support system, like your family, is also key. In a team, you have your teammates and you’re all going through it together. It’s that idea that you’re all in this together — you are your own army if you have to be, and you’ll get through anything without giving up. I think that competitive drive is what kept me going. I call beating cancer a "Life World Championship." For me, I feel like I’m a two-time "Life World Champion." That’s how I see it, just like winning a championship. You see yourself as a champion.

Navigating survivorship or a new diagnosis, what advice would you offer about finding strength and purpose after cancer, especially for a younger individual?

You have to find and hold onto everything positive that you can, no matter how small it is. Focus on the wins. Of course, most of the time you’ll have bad days and struggles, whether it’s day-to-day life, work, another diagnosis, or something else, but it’s about focusing on the positive. Think about how far you’ve come, what you’ve achieved, and what you still want to do. Goals are very important.

Hopefully, you have family and peer support — that’s very important. Another thing that often gets overlooked is faith. I think that’s quite important. It doesn’t matter what religion you believe in. Just having that connection to a higher power can give you strength. That spiritual strength is a very silent strength, and a lot of people overlook it. I’m a big advocate for it.

I don’t think there’s one single thing you can point to; it’s really about being dynamic and pulling together everything in your life that’s positive and strong. Use that to motivate yourself and push through anything. I really believe that’s key.

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