Beating The Odds: NJ Student Looking To Tackle Rare Cases Of Childhood Cancer

GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NJ — A member of the graduating class at Rutgers-New Brunswick is looking to go from translating languages at doctors' visits to advancing care for cancer.

Luis Sanchez-Gonzalez, of Logan Township, is the son of Mexican immigrants and speaks seven languages.

He is also one of around 90 people out of 85,000 to rank in the 100th percentile of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Books, however, could have never prepared him for the reality he faced as a child that ultimately steered his future as he watched his brother struggle.

"He was somebody who I always viewed as capable and strong," Sanchez told Patch. "This is why, despite my young age, when he was diagnosed and treated for cancer, the difficulty of the situation for him really made an impact on me."

Sanchez was four years old when his older brother, who is ten years older than him, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

This battle inspired Luis to dedicate himself to a life of helping others, with an emphasis on cancer and child patients.

"Despite everything he was facing, he was simply not willing to take a step back from what he cared about. I saw from this early point in my life that, regardless of the trials that a person may face, the spirit and strength of a person with a great deal of motivation and purpose can really overcome great trials," he said.

Over the last two years, Sanchez has logged more than 2,400 hours studying Ewing sarcoma, a rare childhood cancer, at the Child Health Institute of New Jersey.

This work centered around how specific drug treatments affect cancer cell behavior.

During his brother's treatment visits, the two boys also would have to help their family understand what was being said by doctors.

Sanchez, who earned a cell biology and neuroscience degree with minors in linguistics, mathematics, and chemistry from Rutgers this spring, wanted to make sure he could make a difference and "bridge the gap" for other families moving forward.

Other than English and Spanish, Sanchez said his favorite language to use is Mandarin.

Through his studies and work at Rutgers, he was also part of a program that helped connect disadvantaged students with opportunities to realize their dreams in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) field.

In 2025, he was also honored with induction into the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the oldest academic honor society in the United States.

Moving forward, Sanchez is looking to continue his studies toward a dual M.D./Ph.D. in medical school.

Any success in the future, he added, will be a direct connection to the help he received from his teachers during his younger years in South Jersey.

"I was fortunate to attend incredible schools...I would not be the same person if not for my experiences at Logan Elementary/Middle School and Kingsway High School," said Sanchez.

Now, more than a decade after he began his academic journey, he hopes to inspire other young people from Gloucester County to see that any goal can be achieved through the right support network, a great deal of commitment, and awareness of the environment around you.

"Identify your goal, find your space with people who are willing to support you, be vulnerable and open to feedback and guidance," Sanchez said, "and work hard at whatever your goal may be."

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