HOUSTON — A student at Rice University has already overcome a lot of obstacles in his life. Because of that, Rehan Siddiqui knows exactly what he wants to do after college. The 19-year-old wants to be an oncologist. He’s already working toward that goal in a lab at Texas Children’s Hospital.
“I have just known cancer my whole life. It was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to pursue a career in oncology,” Rehan said. “My dad was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma, which is a brain cancer. He passed away in 2011. My mom survived ovarian cancer in 2016.”
At 16 years old, Rehan learned he had leukemia.
“I just couldn’t believe it, I think. Because both of my parents had cancer," he said. "I just thought, I don’t know, it would be crazy for me to get it as well."
After two years of treatment, the college sophomore rang the bell, ending chemo at Texas Children's Hospital this summer. He doesn’t see his experience as a hardship. Instead, it’s motivation. Rehan wants to help others beat cancer too. His doctor, and now boss, knows he can do it.
“He has insight into the struggles of patients and families going through difficult diagnoses and difficult treatment plans. He has everything he would need to become a great physician,” said Dr. Alexandra Stevens with Texas Children’s Hospital.
Rehan is looking forward to med school, but the 19-year-old is already making a difference at TCH testing new drugs that could improve treatment for children with cancer.