Beating Cancer Again and Again A Story of Resilience and Teamwork

When Dianne Callahan first heard the words “you have cancer,” she was in her early 40s, going through a divorced and already coping with the heartbreak of two miscarriages. What followed was a harrowing journey through four cancer diagnoses — including three battles with aggressive stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma and breast cancer that led to a double mastectomy.   Callahan credits much of her survival to the care she received at Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center — and to the many doctors, nurses and staff in Fontana as well as Kaiser Permanente Ontario Medical Center who cared for her with skill and compassion.   She is especially grateful to Dr. Arman Aryai, her internal medicine doctor, who admitted her to the hospital after alarming test results and, as she says, saved her life. When he learned her oncology appointment was scheduled for a later date, he immediately arranged for an oncologist to see her that same day.   “Our focus was to act quickly and coordinate care the same day. That teamwork is how we practice medicine here every day to ensure the best outcome for our patients,” said Dr. Arman Aryai, internal medicine physician at Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center.   Kaiser Permanente’s integrated model is designed to help patients navigate the system seamlessly, allowing health care teams to coordinate directly and avoid barriers. That approach helped Dianne time and again as she faced her health challenges head-on.   She began chemotherapy under the care of Dr. Leonardo Farol, who was the hematologist in Fontana at the time. He is now at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center and remains in touch with Dianne to this day.   “Dianne faced complex care over many years, yet she met each step with remarkable resolve. Our job was to begin treatment without delay, so she had every chance to recover,” said Dr. Farol.   Over the years, she endured multiple rounds of chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants and complications that tested her strength and spirit. Through it all, she found hope in the care and kindness of her medical team.   “We don’t know what to do or how to live as cancer patients,” Dianne said. “Then these doctors and nurses come in with their expertise and support, and help us get through it. They are angels.”   Dianne’s story is one of resilience, humor and deep gratitude. She describes her journey as a “lifequake” — a seismic shift that forced her to reevaluate everything. An author and health advocate, she now advocates for cancer patients, speaks publicly and raises funds for research. In 2021, she was named the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s National All-Star Woman of the Year after raising $150,000 for cancer research.   Her husband, Chuck, proposed to her the night they learned she had stage 4 cancer. He became her primary caregiver and emotional anchor through years of treatment and recovery.   Today, Dianne is thriving and in remission. She continues ongoing care with Dr. Sean Miller, oncologist at Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center.   “After treatment, our priority is consistent follow-up and prevention. For patients like Dianne, that means regular monitoring and screening for recurrence so we can help her maintain her health and quality of life,” said Dr. Miller.   Dianne embraces each day with purpose. Her mantra, “Live Urgently,” reflects her belief that life is precious and unpredictable — and that every moment counts.   “I would never have wished to get cancer,” she said. “But I would not change this path. I am grateful for the person it has helped me become.” To learn more about cancer and treatment, visit kp.org/cancercare.