DEANNA MORALES
MY SPINDLE CELL/SCLEROSING RHABDOMYOSARCOMA JOURNEY
My Sarcoma Journey
This video was released in November 2024, following 19 months of intensive treatment, which included numerous surgeries and aggressive chemotherapy. Just as Deanna made the decision to share her story, she received the devastating news that the cancer had returned.
First Diagnosis – March 2023
Second Recurrence– November 2024
Just when we thought we had overcome the unimaginable, our world was shaken once again. In March 2026, I learned that Sclerosing Rhabdomyosarcoma had returned for a third time!. The news was devastating, not only for me but for my family and everyone who has walked beside me throughout this journey.
The road ahead is uncertain, and I won't pretend otherwise. But I am determined to keep fighting.
Third Recurrence – March 2026
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Chicago | Light Up for Sarcoma
In this ABC7 Chicago interview, Cindy Morales shares her daughter Deanna Morales' journey with sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma and the inspiration behind bringing the Light Up for Sarcoma campaign to Chicago for the very first time.
Working in partnership with the Sarcoma Foundation of America, Deanna spearheaded the effort to bring the national Light Up for Sarcoma campaign to Chicago, personally securing the participation of some of the city's most iconic landmarks. For the first time, Willis Tower, John Hancock Center, One Prudential Plaza, and Two Prudential Plaza, the Wrigley Building ,and Navy Pier's Centennial Wheel will illuminate in yellow, transforming Chicago's skyline into a citywide tribute honoring everyone affected by sarcoma.
Through Deanna's vision and determination, Chicago's iconic skyline will stand as a beacon of hope, unity, and visibility for the sarcoma community.
#Rare Should Never Be Invisible.
On July 24, 2026, Chicago made history as it joined the national Light Up for Sarcoma campaign for the very first time. Through Deanna Morales' vision and determination, and in partnership with the Sarcoma Foundation of America, some of Chicago's most iconic landmarks, including Willis Tower, John Hancock Center, One Prudential Plaza, Two Prudential Plaza, the Wrigley Building, and Navy Pier's Centennial Wheel, will illuminate in yellow in recognition of Sarcoma Awareness Month.
More than illuminating the skyline, this historic initiative shines a light on the lives behind the diagnosis, honoring every patient, survivor, and family
affected by sarcoma. Together, Chicago's most iconic landmarks will stand as a beacon of hope, unity, and unwavering solidarity, sending a powerful message that no one facing this rare disease should ever feel invisible.
#Rare Should Never Be Invisible.
What is Spindle Cell / Sclerosing Rhabdomyosarcoma?
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare and aggressive cancer that develops in cells associated with skeletal muscle. Although it is most often diagnosed in children, it is exceptionally uncommon in adults, representing only a very small fraction of adult cancers.
Spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma is rarer still, accounting for only about 5–10% of rhabdomyosarcoma cases. Because so few people are diagnosed with this subtype, much of what is known about the disease comes from small studies and individual case reports. One published review identified just 122 reported cases with sclerosing features in the medical literature.
Deanna was diagnosed as an adult with spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck, placing her within an extraordinarily small patient population. Published studies of adult head-and-neck cases remain remarkably limited, leaving far less clinical data, fewer physicians with direct experience treating the disease, and fewer established treatment options, particularly when the cancer recurs.
For patients like Deanna, rarity is more than a statistic. It can mean searching across the country for specialists, navigating treatment decisions with limited research to guide them, and confronting questions for which medicine simply does not yet have enough answers.
That is why awareness matters. Rare cancers need research, resources, experienced physicians, and treatment options just as urgently as more common cancers. A cancer’s rarity should never determine a patient’s access to answers, treatment, or the chance to survive.
#Rare Should Never Be Invisible
Media & Press
Featured Television
Coming Soon
Sarcoma Foundation of America
Coming Soon
For interviews, podcast appearances, speaking engagements, corporate partnerships, or advocacy collaborations, please contact:
Deanna Morales
deanna@sarcoma-journey.org
Sarcoma Events
Every July, SFA and the sarcoma community come together to raise awareness and support people affected by sarcoma. Learn about our plans and how you can make this Sarcoma Awareness Month one to remember.
https://curesarcoma.org/get-involved/sarcoma-awareness-month/
Now more than ever, the sarcoma community needs to unite and advocate for change. With the current administration proposing cuts to vital programs that support sarcoma research and patient care, it’s crucial to make our voices heard.
Join the sarcoma community in Washington D.C. this July for our Advocacy Weekend.
https://curesarcoma.org/get-involved/sarcoma-advocacy/sarcoma-advocacy-weekend/
On July 24, 2026, buildings and locations from across the country and globally will light their exteriors yellow to raise sarcoma awareness for Light Up for Sarcoma Day.
https://curesarcoma.org/get-involved/sarcoma-awareness-month/light-up-for-sarcoma/
Stand Up to Sarcoma Gala
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 583 Park Avenue
New York City
Stand Up to Sarcoma is the Sarcoma Foundation of America’s signature event, bringing the SFA community together to advance the mission and support its primary fundraising effort.
Net proceeds support research and patient education for 2027.