Teen with T-Cell Lymphoma Tracks Path to College During Treatment 

As a record-setting high school runner, Colby Rochford was an anchorman — the guy teammates depended on to take the baton and sprint to victory.  

These days, while away at college, Rochford is still a young man in a hurry. The opponent now is T-cell lymphoma, and every third Monday, he dashes from class to his car for the two-hour drive from the University of Connecticut (UConn) to Boston for chemotherapy infusions. Then, later that same night, he heads back to campus for his classes the next morning. 

The long-term outcome of this race will be measured in years rather than meters, but Rochford, 19, is not allowing himself to be discouraged. After deferring for the entire 2024-2025 academic year at UConn due to his August 2024 diagnosis, he is determined to not let cancer keep him off track any more than is absolutely necessary. His clinical team at Dana-Farber/Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, as well as his family and tight circle of friends, are all ready to help him if needed.  

“I’ve waited so long, and have worked too hard, to not go to college,” says Rochford, who takes oral chemotherapy daily at school in between his infusions. “My biggest concern is how I’m going to feel day-to-day, but I’m not letting anything stop me. I want to give it my best shot.” 

Dreams Deferred 

When Rochford began coughing in the late winter of 2024, he and everyone else assumed it was just a bad cold.  

Although he had more difficulty breathing during races, his times stayed consistent — and the wins kept coming. He even capped his senior year at Gloucester High School (Mass.) by running on a relay team that also included both his twin brother (and team co-captain) Bryce, as well their younger brother Dylan.  

“He did have an epic cough, but we just thought it was from him running so much,” recalls Bryce. “Colby was our go-to guy. Nothing could slow him down.” 

Also a top student, Colby was named Northeastern Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2024 and was accepted at UConn to study Finance starting that fall. He worked three summer jobs to earn college spending money, made new friends at a UConn orientation visit, and also found time to boat and swim with his family. 

Through it all, the cough persisted.  

Colby visited his pediatrician twice seeking the cause, and when pneumonia and bronchitis were ruled out, his parents insisted that he get X-rays. He went to the Aug. 7 appointment alone, and because he had just turned 18 on June 30, 2024, the pediatrician had him sign disclosure papers for more tests when the X-rays revealed a mass the size of a Nerf football in his chest.   

Then, without first contacting his parents or suggesting to him that they come in, the pediatrician informed Colby that he had cancer.  

“It was unbelievable that they told him alone, just because he was 39 days into officially being an adult,” Colby’s father, Matt, recalls. “Then when we came in, the pediatrician informed us that the radiologist thought it was lymphoma but wanted to do more tests. We got out of there as fast as we could and drove Colby right down to Boston Children’s.”  

There the diagnosis was confirmed on Aug. 9, and Colby and his parents were introduced to pediatric hematologist/oncologist Kira Bona, MD, MPH, who would lead the initial portion of his treatment at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s.  

“One of the first questions I asked Dr. Bona was, ‘Am I still going to be able to go to college in two weeks?’” Colby remembers.  

Bona explained that this would be impossible. The first intensive portion of chemotherapy would require a one-month hospital stay, and the entire first year of his 25-month treatment protocol would include constant medical supervision. He would have to defer at UConn for at least one year.  

“Colby felt worse about leaving his new roommate stranded than anything else,” remembers Colby’s mother, Sari. “Then we had to call his brothers, which was really tough. We still had to get Bryce ready to start at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), and he didn’t want to move on with his life if Colby could not.” 

Bryce, their younger brother Dylan, and their friends did their best to keep Colby’s spirits up. They continued a “Wednesday Night Wings” ritual they had started in high school by bringing chicken wings to his hospital room, and although Bryce did leave for UNH as planned, he came home almost every weekend. 

“It was definitely heartbreaking, because I was so geared up to go to college,” says Colby. “I just knew I had to get better and be patient.”  

Stronger in Storrs 

The next year was the hardest and most physically exhausting of Colby’s life. Rather than breaking away from his childhood home, he rarely left it except for medical reasons. There were frequent outpatient visits to Dana-Farber’s Jimmy Fund Clinic for infusions and blood draws, which complemented the oral chemotherapy he took daily at home. When complications arose, inpatient stays at Boston Children’s were also required. 

“It was sad, but we made the most of it,” says Dylan of this period. “I feel like this brought us closer, because we were hanging out a lot more.”  

As he put a big “X” through each day on a calendar charting his treatment, one thing motivated Colby above all else — making it to UConn for the fall 2025 semester. It would be the second half of his protocol, otherwise known as the maintenance phase, which requires less frequent and intensive chemotherapy infusions. His Jimmy Fund Clinic care team, led by oncologist Jessica Pollard, MD, and nurse practitioner Cecilia Igwe-Kalu, MSN, FNP-C, worked to help make this a reality. 

“Everybody at the Jimmy Fund Clinic was great,” says Colby. “When I started preparing to go back to school, they all told me to listen to my body and be patient, and I could do it.” 

To his care team, Colby exemplified resilience – and kindness. 

“During that first year, we saw Colby look outward to support other kids with similar diagnoses even while battling his own cancer,” explains Pollard. “We had no doubt that he had the strength and determination to be successful as he entered this exciting new phase of life.”  

Igwe-Kalu adds that Colby’s positive attitude and ability to accept his situation were huge assets in his recovery. 

“He never shied away from being his true self while facing the sadness and anxiety his diagnosis brought him,” says Igwe-Kalu. “I never doubt his commitment to being the best he can be, while in school, but also while undergoing treatment. What an amazing human he is!” 

On Aug. 22, 2025, Colby left for Storrs, Conn. and UConn. And while his first month at college has brought the usual freshman challenges like making new friends and adjusting to heightened academic demands, he is enjoying himself. Because he is still immunocompromised, he has his own dorm room, but he’s trying to spend as much time out of it as possible by getting involved with numerous clubs and volunteer organizations. 

Walking around the large campus with a backpack, he feels himself getting stronger.  

“The kids I met at orientation in 2024, who are sophomores now, know about my cancer, but I’m not telling anyone else yet,” Colby explains. “All I want to do is be a normal person and not get special treatment.” 

Like Colby, his parents know his race is far from over. There will be more challenges to face. Still, a recent development has them encouraged about the road ahead.  

“I was meeting up with Colby at Dana-Farber for his first infusion since he left for school, and taking him a bunch of stuff we had ordered for his dorm room,” explains Matt. “Then, just before I left, he called and asked me to bring along his running shoes, too.”