HopeCONNECTION Vol. 26 | No. 2 | Spring 2026
A Second Opinion Becomes a Second Chance You helped Dan hold onto Hope — literally! Dan says his daughter’s life — and his own second chance — are only possible because of City of Hope®. Your generosity fueled this victory!
When Dan Trombley was suddenly diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at age 37, the news was devastating — not only because the disease had already spread to his liver, but also because he was told there was nothing more doctors could do. A career Navy Chief Warrant Officer, Dan had always been physically fit and healthy. But after months of fatigue and pain, tests revealed advanced colon cancer with tumors occupying nearly twothirds of his liver. His local care team in Virginia recommended chemotherapy to extend his life, but said surgery — the only
potential path to a cure — was impossible. “Every other doctor said, ‘It’s over, you’re done, there’s nothing we can do,’” Dan recalls.
Going for the cure Refusing to accept that answer, Dan began researching on his own. Through an online colorectal cancer support group, he learned about City of Hope and its reputation for treating complex and advanced cancers. He reached out directly to Yuman Fong, M.D., chair of the Department of Surgery at City of Hope and the Sangiacomo
Family Chair in Surgical Oncology. Dr. Fong emailed back the very next day. After reviewing Dan’s case, Dr. Fong saw something others had missed: a patient who was young, strong and potentially eligible for an aggressive surgical approach. Mindful of Dan’s home base in Virginia, Dr. Fong offered to set him up with a surgeon he’d trained who practiced at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. But Dan’s mind was made up. “I really wanted Dr. Fong,” Dan says. “I liked Dr. Fong’s confidence, his demeanor, his desire to ‘go for the cure.’” (Continued on page 2)
IN THIS ISSUE
A Second Opinion Becomes a Second Chance
BREAKTHROUGH! Diabetes Research Win
Closing the Cancer Care Gap CONTINUED ON PAGE 6