Diana Stork was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2016 after she went in for her routine mammogram with zero cancer symptoms.  An ultrasound and biopsy confirmed the initial suspicion of breast cancer. Diana had surgery and was placed in Dr. Daniel Hassett’s clinic at Dana-Farber. She received radiation and is on continuation medication and is today cancer-free. Diana is extremely grateful for the quality care that she has had at Dana-Farber, including the Zakim Center. After surgery but before radiation started, Diana wondered what else she could do while spending so much time at Dana-Farber, so she stuck her head into a tai chi class and asked if she could just watch for one class. The instructor told her to join the class, so she did, and was hooked from that point forward! Diana began scheduling her radiation around Zakim classes. She has enjoyed women’s exercise classes, Pilates, yoga, tai chi, tai gong, and massage. She goes to the Zakim Center 2-4 times a week. Diana says that the Zakim Center is beneficial for three reasons: 1.) when one feels stronger and healthier, one is stronger and healthier and better equipped to battle their cancer 2.) the camaraderie of the group is reassuring and inspiring without the pressures of a talk group, 3.) the teachers are both caring and challenging in a way that she finds extremely motivating.  Diana is married to Dr. Muz Mansuri, a physician on the South Shore and they have one son, Daniel, 25. Diana is a former college professor who is now working as a book editor. One of her major goals is to successfully wrap up this 18-month project with a strong book launch and art opening in New York in the spring of 2018. She is also interested in traveling, fishing, designing, and consulting.

Dr. Ligibel received her MD from Washington University in St. Louis. Later she completed a residency in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, followed by a medical oncology fellowship at DFCI. In 2001, she joined the Women's Cancer Program at DFCI and is currently an instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. In addition to her role as a breast cancer physician, Dr. Ligibel is also director of the Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living, which is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients and their families by incorporating complementary therapies into traditional cancer care. Just two weeks ago, the Zakim Center opened a brand new specially designed facility within the Institute, making it the first comprehensive cancer center in Boston to offer such a broad selection of supportive services. This dedicated space will allow Dana-Farber to meet the increasingly large patient interest in integrative services, while expanding healthy living initiatives. The Zakim Center now features five treatment rooms for acupuncture and massage, a consultation room for integrative medicine and nutrition services, a mind-body studio for yoga and group movement class, and an exercise training studio. Patients using the Zakim Center often report reductions in cancer-related pain, less fatigue and nausea, and overall better quality of life.