New York, November 23, 2025
Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy, has been diagnosed with terminal acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a rare and aggressive blood cancer. The diagnosis, revealed in a personal essay published in The New Yorker, followed routine blood testing after childbirth and involves a rare inversion 3 mutation.
Terminal Diagnosis and Rare Mutation
Tatiana Schlossberg, aged 35, faces a grave prognosis due to acute myeloid leukemia characterized by a seldom-seen inversion 3 mutation. This genetic abnormality is typically observed in older patients and is linked to more aggressive disease progression and limited treatment options. Her diagnosis came unexpectedly; she reported feeling healthy before the routine tests that detected the illness.
AML is a fast-moving cancer of the bone marrow and blood, and inversion 3 mutations complicate the clinical outlook significantly. This rare subtype makes Schlossberg’s case particularly severe and unusual given her young age.
Family History and Public Disclosure
Schlossberg’s announcement connects her health battle to a broader family narrative marked by notable tragedies. She is the granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963, and niece to Senator Robert F. Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr., both of whom also died prematurely. Additionally, her grandmother Jackie Kennedy succumbed to cancer.
Despite the poignancy of this history, Schlossberg’s essay emphasizes her commitment to her present life and her children, underscoring a focus on resilience amid challenging circumstances.
Implications and Awareness
By publicly sharing her diagnosis, Schlossberg brings attention to a severe and rare form of leukemia that demands urgent awareness in the medical and broader communities. Her case illustrates that AML with inversion 3 mutations, though predominantly affecting older patients, can also emerge unexpectedly in younger individuals.
Her transparency highlights the unpredictable nature of acute myeloid leukemia and the importance of routine health screenings, especially postpartum. The disclosure also serves as a somber reminder of the hereditary and health challenges faced by prominent families and individuals.
Tatiana Schlossberg remains focused on living with intention and raising her children amidst this difficult journey, offering an example of candor and strength in the face of terminal illness.