Dr. Robert Dilley: Turning His Cancer Journey into Better Care for Others
Eighteen years after a life-changing diagnosis, Dr. Robert Dilley is helping develop new cancer treatments inspired by the research that once saved him.
The summer before college is supposed to be carefree, a time for friends, sunshine, and dreams of what’s to come. But for Robert Dilley, M.D., Ph.D., that summer brought something entirely unexpected.
At just 18 years old, Dilley thought he was getting over a lingering flu when a visit to his primary care doctor changed everything. Suspecting mono, his doctor ordered routine bloodwork. The results came back abnormal and within hours, Dilley was admitted to the hospital for further testing. By the end of the day, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.
Thanks to the quick thinking of his primary care physician and swift coordination with his oncologist, Dilley began treatment almost immediately. Instead of starting college and moving into a dorm, he spent the next six months undergoing intensive treatment, postponing his freshman year to focus on healing.
A Lifesaving Clinical Trial
Amid the fear and uncertainty, Dilley had the opportunity to join a clinical trial led by his pediatric oncologist. After discussing the risks and benefits with his family and care team, he enrolled. The trial combined standard chemotherapy with gemtuzumab, an antibody-drug conjugate, the first of its kind to receive FDA approval.
While the treatment was physically and emotionally challenging, Dilley felt grateful to have access to cutting-edge care, made possible by cancer research.
“Seventy years ago, there weren’t really effective treatments,” Dilley said. “Over time, chemotherapy has developed, and I was fortunate to benefit from that progress. The trial I participated in helped advance cancer therapy on a broader scale.”
After five years of clear scans, Dilley was officially declared cancer-free.
A New Perspective
A year after his diagnosis, Dilley started college with a renewed sense of purpose. Inspired by the care he received and the science that made it possible, he decided to pursue a career in medicine.
As an undergraduate student, he worked on translational research studying leukemias and potential treatments for clinical trials. Mentored by a physician scientist, Dilley saw how patient experiences could drive lab discoveries and how research could directly improve patient care.
That mentorship solidified his decision to pursue an M.D.-Ph.D., combining his passion for science with his commitment to helping others. Driven to improve therapies for future cancer patients, he chose to focus on oncology.
Bridging Science and Care
Dilley’s own cancer journey continues to shape the way he cares for patients today. “Everyone’s experience is different,” he said. “But I understand what it’s like to hear life-changing news. I try to always treat patients as people first, not just as their disease.”
The same experience fuels his research. Now in the final stage of his oncology fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dilley focuses on early-stage clinical trials and preclinical drug development, helping move new therapies from the lab to patients.
Victory Over Cancer®
For Dr. Dilley, Victory Over Cancer® means more than just survival. It means living fully, without fear.
“What I envision is for cancer to not be this scary thing, that we’ve made enough advancements so patients can go through treatment and still be able to live their lives, even with a cancer diagnosis,” he said.
Now 18 years cancer-free, Dilley is working to improve care for future patients, so cancer doesn’t have to put anyone’s life on hold.
