Video

From Dancing to Amputation and Back Again

Evan Ruggiero was a sophomore in college when one day, he woke up with an intense pain in his leg. Since he spent many hours a day dancing, he initially thought it might be a minor injury. He got an X-ray anyway, and the results ended up being much more severe: an osteosarcoma diagnosis.

Evan Ruggiero was a sophomore in college when one day, he woke up with an intense pain in his leg. Since he spent many hours a day dancing, he initially thought it might be a minor injury. He got an X-ray anyway, and the results ended up being much more severe: an osteosarcoma diagnosis.

After multiple surgeries, Evan eventually had his leg amputated. But that did not stop him from getting back to the art he loved: tap dancing. In this interview, CURE editor Brielle Benyon talks to Evan about what was going through his mind when he was first diagnosed, and what kept him inspired to start tapping once again.

Watch Evan dance.

Listen to the full interview.

Newsletter

Stay up to date on cancer updates, research and education

Related Videos
Image of doctor.
Image of man with black hair.
Picture of Dr. Pouneh Razavi
Richard Winneker gathers input from patients and researchers to shape MPN research, aiming to fund strategic projects for this population.
Dr. Curtiland Deville Jr. discusses the importance of crafting an individualized treatment plan for patients with prostate cancer.
Image of Crispino
Image of Dr. Reznick
Picture of Joy Anderson
Some patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma whose disease progressed after CAR-T cell therapy, responded to odronextamab.
Anne M. Reb is a nurse practitioner with City of Hope.