As Cancer Takes Her Life, JFK Descendant Opposes Cousin's Health Policies

Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of John F. Kennedy, shared in a heartfelt essay for The New Yorker that she has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, while also condemning her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for policy choices she believes endanger cancer patients. At 34, Schlossberg revealed she was found to have acute myeloid leukemia with an uncommon mutation in May 2024, shortly after her second child was born. She described undergoing chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants, and participating in clinical trials, and recounted a recent conversation with her doctor who told her, "he could keep me alive for a year, maybe"

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Schlossberg's criticism is directed at RFK Jr., who has become a notable figure in health policy and was recently nominated by President Donald Trump for Health and Human Services secretary. She called attention to RFK Jr.'s move to eliminate nearly $500 million in federal support for mRNA vaccine research—a technology she believes could be adapted to treat some cancers

. Her essay, released on the 62nd anniversary of JFK’s assassination, also voiced her worries about her children growing up without her and described the emotional burden on her family .

This dispute highlights larger issues in American health policy, especially regarding funding for research and regulatory choices. The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), which has long advocated for more federal funding, has recently established a Center for Public Policy to strengthen its advocacy. The center’s mission is to speed up research, broaden access to clinical trials, and enhance drug availability, echoing Schlossberg’s concerns about how resources are distributed

. As part of the center’s launch, OCRA introduced an Interactive Policy Map that enables advocates to monitor legislative developments on gynecologic cancer issues in real time.

Meanwhile, progress in cancer treatment and diagnostics continues to accelerate. Taiho Oncology and Cullinan Therapeutics have begun a rolling submission for zipalertinib, a therapy aimed at non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations. Separately, BeOne Medicines shared updated clinical trial results on BTK inhibitors for B-cell cancers at the 2025 American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting, highlighting new advances in targeted cancer therapies .

RFK Jr.'s role in shaping public health policy has also led to changes in vaccine recommendations. The CDC has recently updated its guidance on childhood vaccinations, moving away from universal recommendations for all age groups and instead encouraging more personalized discussions

. Some critics warn that these changes, which reflect RFK Jr.'s skepticism toward mainstream science, may erode public confidence in medical research. , a major developer of mRNA vaccines, is now facing a reduced market as FDA rules restrict vaccine eligibility to individuals under 65 with certain risk factors .

Schlossberg’s openness about her diagnosis has reignited discussions about how politics and healthcare intersect. "For my whole life, I have tried to be good," she reflected, noting that her illness has brought "a new tragedy" to her family

. Her criticism of RFK Jr. highlights wider worries about how policy decisions affect patients who depend on advanced research and fair access to medical care.