The Charger Blog

Graduate Student, Cancer Survivor Committed to Research and Advocacy

Chris Farrell Ӱԭ16, Ӱԭ23 MPA was diagnosed with HodgkinӰԭs lymphoma in 2020, and he is now in remission. He has made it his mission to serve as a source of support for others who are going through treatment and to help find a cure for the disease.

August 31, 2022

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications


Chris Farrell Ӱԭ16, Ӱԭ23 MPA at a toy drive.
Chris Farrell Ӱԭ16, Ӱԭ23 MPA organized a toy drive for Yale New Haven ChildrenӰԭs Hospital in July 2021

In 2020, Chris Farrell Ӱԭ16, Ӱԭ23 MPA noticed his neck was swollen, and he saw a swollen lymph node above his collarbone. HeӰԭd also been experiencing fatigue, and heӰԭd lost weight, so he went to the doctor. His diagnosis of stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma changed his life.

Finley Chapman Ӱԭ22.
Chris Farrell Ӱԭ16, Ӱԭ23 MPA on his first day of chemotherapy in March 2020.

A type of cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma affects the lymphatic system. Despite completing six months of chemotherapy followed by a month of radiation, a scan in January 2021 indicated FarrellӰԭs cancer had returned. He then completed another two months of intense chemotherapy, then underwent a stem-cell transplant the following May.

After spending a month in the hospital, Farrell began a maintenance immunotherapy treatment, which finished this past June. He is now in remission.

ӰԭMy mission is to now play a small part in the effort to end blood cancers, and, really, any cancers,Ӱԭ he said. ӰԭI also want to be a support system for others who are going through treatment. I know I had a lot of questions and fears when I was first diagnosed. I would like other patients to know that they can come to me.Ӱԭ

ӰԭWe all know someone who has been affected by cancerӰԭ
Finley Chapman Ӱԭ22.
Chris Farrell Ӱԭ16, Ӱԭ23 MPA received a stem cell transplant in May 2021.

to walk and raise money for the upcoming event in Norwalk, Conn. The event, which will be held at Calf Pasture Beach on October 8, raises money for research, advocacy, and support for patients and their families. Farrell hopes to raise $5,000 for the organization.

ӰԭI chose this organization because they saved my life,Ӱԭ he said. ӰԭThe money they raise goes to research new drugs and therapies to cure blood cancers. Without it, the chemotherapy drugs and stem-cell transplant I received over the past two years probably would not exist. They equip oncologists and scientists with the tools they need to succeed.Ӱԭ

A community relations specialist for , Farrell earned a bachelorӰԭs degree in political science from the University, and he is now a candidate in the UniversityӰԭs program. HeӰԭs grateful for the support heӰԭs received as a member of the University community, and heӰԭs eager to make an and advocacy initiatives.

ӰԭWe all know someone who has been affected by cancer,Ӱԭ he said. ӰԭIf we all sacrificed a small amount of time or money to beating this disease, it would not stand a chance.Ӱԭ

Chris Farrell Ӱԭ16, Ӱԭ23 MPA with his fiancée, Elizabeth.
Chris Farrell Ӱԭ16, Ӱԭ23 MPA with his fiancée, Elizabeth, in July 2022.