Atlanta cancer survivor riding on float in 136th Rose Parade
Julianna Ferrone (City of Hope)
PASADENA, Calif. - An Atlanta cancer survivor will have the honor of being featured in the 136th annual Rose Parade on Wednesday.
Julianna Ferrone was diagnosed with Stage 3 cervical cancer in July 2020 after she went to the hospital for bleeding.
After undergoing a hysterectomy, appendectomy, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, Ferrone's cancer appeared to be gone. Then in 2022, she woke up and found she couldn't walk.
Ferrone was rushed to the emergency room, where she learned that she had experienced a reoccurrence, which can be tougher to treat.
The Atlanta woman turned to the experts at City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta. After being on chemotherapy and a drug combination for nearly a year, she beat the disease.
"I’m good," Ferrone said. "I’m coming back to life. I’m so blessed I can walk and talk."
Ferrone will be one of the doctors and patients on this year's City of Hope float, titled "A Beautiful Day for Hope."
"This is incredibly exciting," Ferrone said. "I am so dedicated to this message about screening and early prevention … You need to advocate for yourself. Keep going until you find someone who will help you."
The Rose Parade begins at 11 am. in Pasadena, California.
The Source: Information for this story came from a release by City of Hope.