I wanted rehearsal, not the ER - Ashley Park reflects on cancer diagnosis at 15
Long before the spotlight and red carpets, Ashley Park was just a teenager trying to make it to rehearsal, even as her body was quietly giving her warning signs.
At 15, she was dealing with constant fatigue, unexplained bruises, and moments that did not quite make sense at the time, including passing out during a dance class and struggling to keep up with her school routine.
Still, her focus stayed on performing. So when doctors told her she needed to go straight to the emergency room, her first instinct was simple.
“I need to go to rehearsal first,” she recalled in a conversation with USA TODAY at the South by Southwest on March 14.
That moment marked the beginning of a life-altering chapter.
Park was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a serious condition that begins in the bone marrow and can quickly move into the bloodstream.
What seemed like mild, flu-like symptoms had been something far more serious.
The months that followed were intense and isolating. Park spent most of that time in the hospital, missing an entire semester of school.
She remembers that many of her regular human interactions came from her oncologist, who made a quiet effort to lift her spirits by wearing a different tie each day. It was a small gesture, but one that stayed with her.
Treatment was long and demanding, but it worked. Over time, her checkups became less frequent, shifting from quarterly to yearly as her condition improved.
She eventually went into remission, though her health journey has not been without challenges.
She later experienced septic shock, a moment she describes as frightening, but one she pushed through.
Today, Park is intentional about how she lives. She prioritizes her physical and emotional wellbeing, turning to practices like Pilates and staying mindful of her mental health.
Even simple things, like enjoying cold-pressed juice or ginger shots, feel meaningful now, especially after a time when her body could not tolerate them.
Speaking at SXSW for the Time Back campaign, which highlights the work of oncologists, Park reflected on the importance of holding on to joy.
“We need a lot of positive things right now,” she said, explaining that she wants to focus more on the moments of light that came out of her experience.
That perspective has shaped how she approaches her craft as well.
For Park, acting is no longer about putting on a mask, but about tapping into something real.
“It feels more like finding the genuine truth of yourself,” she said, a mindset shaped by everything she has lived through.
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