Health · Medical Research · 6 hrs ago
Delani Diekmeier will not receive a cancer treatment tested in the lab
A lab test of 15-year-old Delani Diekmeier’s cancer tissue showed only a limited response to a new drug.
The sample came from lung tissue affected by cancer that had spread, and the treatment was not given.
Her family declined it because the chances of benefit seemed low, while the treatment could bring strong side effects and a long hospital stay.
Her mother said the family may try a different form of treatment in January, but will spend the rest of the year without a hospital stay.
Delani was diagnosed with a tumor on her adrenal gland in January 2025, which was removed; doctors later found cancer spread to both lungs.
She is currently feeling well and remains positive, her mother said.
Delani is also hoping to visit London and compete in a horse-riding tournament in Leipzig in January.
A laboratory test found that Delani Diekmeier’s metastatic lung tissue responded to a cancer drug only to a limited extent.
Her family decided against the treatment, which was expected to involve strong side effects and a long hospital stay.
Her mother, Dana Diekmeier, said the family may consider another form of the treatment in January.
The 15-year-old is currently feeling well, her mother said.
Delani was diagnosed with an adrenal gland tumour in January 2025, and doctors later found metastases in both lungs.
- Who
- Delani Diekmeier, the 15-year-old daughter of former footballer Dennis Diekmeier.
- What
- Her family decided not to proceed with a cancer treatment tested on her metastatic lung tissue because the sample responded to the drug only to a limited extent.
- When
- The report was published on 12 November 2026. The family may consider another form of treatment in January.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- The tissue sample responded to the drug only one-third, and the treatment was expected to involve strong side effects and a long hospital stay.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Doctors diagnosed Delani with an adrenal gland tumour, which was later surgically removed.
Doctors found metastases in both of her lungs.
A laboratory test showed that the metastatic lung tissue responded to the new drug only one-third.
The family may try another form of the treatment.
- Age
- 15
- Laboratory response
- One-third
- Primary tumour
- Adrenal gland
- Metastases
- Both lungs
- Diagnosis
- January 2025
What people are saying
leider nicht so funktioniert, wie wir uns das vorgestellt haben
weil die Chancen nicht sehr hoch sind, dass es etwas bringt
Vielleicht machen wir das noch in einer anderen Form im Januar.
gerade sehr gut