Tatiana Schlossberg Reveals Terminal Cancer Diagnosis
Tatiana Schlossberg Reveals Terminal Cancer Diagnosis
Tatiana Schlossberg, the environmental journalist and granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy, has revealed that she has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, specifically Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), and has been told by her doctors she may only have about a year left to live.
The 35-year-old daughter of Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg shared the heartbreaking news and details of her two-year health battle in an emotional essay published by The New Yorker on Saturday, November 22, 2025—the 62nd anniversary of her grandfather's assassination.
💔 Diagnosis and Prognosis
Tatiana Schlossberg's diagnosis came as a profound shock, discovered just hours after she gave birth to her second child, a daughter, in May 2024.
The Discovery: Doctors noticed an abnormally high white blood cell count, which turned out to be Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a type of blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow and often moves rapidly into the blood.
The Rare Mutation: Her specific form of leukemia includes a rare mutation called Inversion 3, which is typically seen in older patients and makes the cancer particularly aggressive and challenging to treat.
Treatment Course: Since her diagnosis, Schlossberg has undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants (one from her sister, Rose, and another from an unrelated donor), and participated in several clinical trials, including CAR-T-cell therapy.
The Terminal Status: Despite the intense treatments, the cancer has repeatedly returned. She wrote that her doctor informed her during her latest clinical trial that "he could keep me alive for a year, maybe."
Schlossberg, who is married to physician George Moran and has two young children, wrote about the immense difficulty of facing mortality as a young, otherwise healthy mother, and her fears that her children will not remember her.
🏛️ Political Context and Criticism of RFK Jr.
In her essay, titled "A Battle With My Blood," Schlossberg used her deeply personal experience to criticize the political actions and policies of her cousin, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.).
Impact on Research: She accused RFK Jr. of cutting nearly half a billion dollars for research into mRNA vaccines—technology that she noted could be used against certain cancers—and of slashing billions in funding from the National Institutes of Health.
Strained Healthcare: Schlossberg described watching the healthcare system she relied on feel "strained, shaky" due to the funding cuts and regulatory changes implemented during RFK Jr.'s tenure, impacting the doctors and researchers at institutions like Columbia and Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Family Reaction: The criticism follows reports that her mother, Caroline Kennedy, had previously urged senators to reject RFK Jr.'s confirmation as Health Secretary.
📚 Who is Tatiana Schlossberg?
Tatiana Celia Kennedy Schlossberg is an environmental journalist and author known for her work covering climate and science issues.
Family: She is the middle child and one of the three grandchildren of the late President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Her mother is Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to Australia and former Ambassador to Japan, and her father is artist Edwin Schlossberg. Her siblings are Rose and Jack Schlossberg.
Career: She previously worked as a science and climate reporter for The New York Times and has also written for publications like The Atlantic and The Washington Post. She is the author of the 2019 book, Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don't Know You Have.
Focus: Schlossberg has dedicated her remaining time to being present with her husband and two young children, while focusing on her desire to "fill my brain with memories" of them.
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