Brain Cancer Survivor Grace Wethor Celebrates 10 Years After 6-Month Prognosis

The actress, author, model and DJ has defied the odds and continues to advocate for more funding and support for brain cancer treatment.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 12:03pm

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Over a decade ago, Grace Wethor was told she had just six months to live due to brain cancer. But the now 24-year-old has continued to defy that initial dire prognosis, celebrating 10 years since her diagnosis. Wethor has been managing her tumor through regular testing and treatment, while also becoming a vocal advocate for increased funding and support for brain cancer research and care.

Why it matters

Wethor's story provides hope and inspiration for those facing similarly challenging health battles. Her advocacy work has also helped drive policy changes to improve access to care and treatment options for brain cancer patients, especially children. Her perseverance in the face of adversity highlights the need for continued advancements in this area of medicine.

The details

When Wethor was first diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in her early teens, doctors gave her just six months to live. But over the past decade, she has continued to defy that prognosis, undergoing regular testing and treatment to manage her condition. Wethor has had to adapt to living with ongoing symptoms like seizures and paralysis, and has faced challenges even with everyday tasks like grocery shopping. Despite these obstacles, she has remained positive and active, pursuing her passions in acting, writing, modeling and DJing.

  • In 2013, Wethor was first diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and given a 6-month prognosis.
  • In 2019, Forbes first reported on Wethor's story, four years after her initial diagnosis.
  • In 2024, Wethor received the United Nations Global Impact award for her advocacy work.
  • In February 2026, legislation Wethor advocated for, the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act and The Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act, passed.
  • In March 2026, Wethor celebrated the 10-year mark since her initial 6-month prognosis.

The players

Grace Wethor

A 24-year-old actress, author, model and DJ who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in her early teens and given a 6-month prognosis, but has now celebrated 10 years since that initial diagnosis.

Neil Armstrong

An astronaut whose daughter had a brain tumor in the 1960s that doctors were unable to treat, similar to Wethor's condition.

Catherine Young, PhD

A representative from the Biden Administration's Cancer Moonshot initiative who participated in a roundtable discussion organized by Wethor's foundation.

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What they’re saying

“It's been a long journey, but it's going really well. My tumor is still stable. I'm still on the same wait and watch protocol, so I do MRIs every 6 months and then most of my treatment is just managing symptoms and side effects.”

— Grace Wethor

“We basically invited 50 survivors and siblings to DC and they got to sit in a circle, have the White House staffers listen in and just talk about what they needed, what they wanted. We scheduled it for 20 minutes because I was terrified that they weren't going to speak. But these kids, ages like 12 to 20, talked for 2 hours, and we literally had to stop them because the meeting room was running out of time.”

— Grace Wethor

What’s next

Wethor plans to continue her advocacy work, pushing for more funding and support for brain cancer research and treatment, especially for pediatric patients. She will also keep pursuing her own education, recently enrolling in a neuroscience program through Harvard to better understand her condition.

The takeaway

Grace Wethor's remarkable 10-year journey since being given just 6 months to live demonstrates the power of perseverance, hope and advocacy in the face of a devastating diagnosis. Her story inspires others facing similar challenges and underscores the critical need for increased resources and advancements in brain cancer care.