Hello, and welcome aboard!
I’m Angela Unayan — a student, cancer survivor, researcher, advocate, and lifelong learner trying to make sense of the world through both science and story.
My journey has taken me from Hong Kong to California, from being a patient learning to speak up for myself to becoming someone who wants to speak up for others. Along the way, I discovered that resilience isn’t simply about enduring difficult moments. Sometimes, it is about allowing those experiences to change the questions you ask, the people you help, and the direction you choose to take.
That idea is at the heart of Tides of Resilience.
A Little About Me
I’ve always been drawn to the questions behind how things work. Biology and chemistry gave me a language for understanding the world around me, while my experiences with healthcare gave those subjects a deeply personal meaning.
Today, I’m especially interested in cancer biology, drug discovery, biochemistry, and pediatric medicine. Through research experiences, I’ve had the opportunity to explore questions ranging from molecular biology and protein function to potential approaches for understanding cancer treatment and relapse.
But science, to me, has never existed in isolation.
Being a patient taught me how much medicine depends on the human beings behind the science — the doctors who answer one more question, the nurses who notice when something feels wrong, the researchers working toward treatments that may help someone years from now, and the advocates who make sure patients and families are heard.
That intersection between science and people is where I hope to build my future.
Beyond the Lab
Research is only one part of what I do.
I’m passionate about cancer advocacy, youth leadership, healthcare education, and patient advocacy. Through my work with the American Cancer Society Youth Ambassadors and other community initiatives, I’ve helped organize conferences, educational programs, fundraising efforts, and opportunities for young people to learn more about cancer and healthcare.
These experiences have taught me that leadership isn’t always about being the loudest person in the room. Sometimes, it is about organizing the room in the first place — bringing people together, listening carefully, and making sure everyone has a chance to contribute.
The Person Behind the Projects
Outside of research and advocacy, I’m still figuring things out.
I love music, languages, food, traveling, and the little traditions that make a place feel like home. Growing up between cultures has made me especially curious about how people communicate, what they carry with them, and how our backgrounds shape the way we see the world.
I also believe that not every meaningful moment needs to become an accomplishment.
Some of my favorite memories are much quieter: spending time with family, singing, cooking, watching the sunset, or simply having a conversation that lasts longer than expected.
Those moments matter, too.
Where I’m Going
I hope to eventually become a pediatric oncology physician-scientist, combining the perspectives of a researcher and a physician to help improve the lives of children and families affected by cancer.
I’m particularly interested in the questions that sit between the laboratory and the hospital:
- How can we make treatment more precise?
- How can scientific discoveries become meaningful improvements in patient care?
- How can we listen to patients while developing the next generation of treatments?
I don’t have all the answers yet.
That’s part of the reason I created this website.
Tides of Resilience is a record of the questions I’m asking, the things I’m learning, the people I’m meeting, and the person I’m becoming.
Some chapters will be about science. Some will be about advocacy. Some will be about school, culture, music, or simply growing up.
And some will be about the tides that change us.
Thanks for being here.
I hope you’ll stay awhile.
Life is like a Roller Coaster, there will be ups, there will be downs. Some days, it may feel like the whole carriage is about to tip over the edge and you’ll fall to your death. Remember in those times that so many others have gotten onto that very same ride and made it out the other end perfectly fine. You will make it to the other side too.
Angela Unayan
Family Background
My mom’s side of the family are all Chinese or Taiwanese whereas my dad’s side of the family are all Filipino. My mom grew up moving back and forth between Taiwan and the Philippines, eventually settling in Hong Kong once she finished her Bachelor’s in the Philippines. She met my dad in high school in the Philippines but didn’t really interact with him much at the time. After many years of not seeing each other, while my mom was on a trip in the US, she reunited with my dad and they ended up in a relationship. It was interesting to say the least as she still needed to return to Hong Kong for work so my parents have always been in a long distance relationship. When I was born, my mom convinced my dad that it would be best if I went with her back to Hong Kong so that I could pick up Chinese so there I went. My dad stayed here in California for his job and would either come visit us during breaks or we would fly to California to visit him. Everything was amazing in the first 6 years of my life but disaster struck in 2016 when my dad suffered from a severe episode of stroke and did not receive the timely medical help that could have possibly saved more of his brain. Since then, he has never truly made a recovery and stayed in hospitals, medical facilities, rehabilitation centers, and now assisted living facilities. One of my biggest regrets is not knowing more of my dad’s side of the family’s story as I never got around asking all of those big questions when I was younger and he was still around. I just hope that someday I can uncover more of my familial story and learn more about the man who loved me and my mom unconditionally.
Hong Kong
My home for the first 12 years of my life! Vibrant, fast-paced, and efficient are the 3 words I’d use to describe Hong Kong. I lived in Tung Chung right across from Hong Kong International Airport so watching the planes fly by overhead was always a favourite pastime. I attended K-6 here and couldn’t have asked for more. I love my alma mater Po Leung Kuk Camões Tan Siu Lin Primary School very much and am always proud to let others know about my elementary school. Beyond the high level academics, there’s a bustling food scenery littered across the city. You can get just about anything and everything you would have a craving for at just about any price point. Missing the days when frequenting a 茶樓 didn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Osteosarcoma
A rare malignant (cancerous) type of tumor that forms in the cells responsible for forming new bone. The root words for this disease come from Osteo- (bone) and Sarcoma (cancer that starts in the connective tissues such as bone, cartilage, or muscle). This bone tumor usually forms in the long bones of the body, so is more commonly found in the arm or legs. My tumor was located in my left distal femur (close to the knee) so I underwent chemotherapy and surgical removal + reconstruction of my leg. Osteosarcoma is extremely rare with under 1,000 cases diagnosed every year and about half of all cases occurs in children, adolescents, and young adults between the ages of 10 and 30. It only accounts for 2% to 5% of all pediatric cancers and for a localized tumor, has approximately a 60% to 70% 5-year relative survival rate.
My Oncology Team
An amazing group of Doctors, Nurses, Child Life Specialists, Social Workers, Care Partners, and other Hospital Staff who took care of me throughout my journey battling Osteosarcoma. I still keep in touch with some of my doctor’s outside of the hospital and send them updates about my life to show them what I’ve achieved outside of cancer. Thank you so much to everyone at UCLA Health who supported me during my worst moments and encouraging me to continue looking on forwards. A couple of people I’d like to especially shoutout are Dr. Federman, Dr. Bernthal, Dr. Jonas, Dr. Moore, Dr. Nowicki, Dr. Kenny, Dr. Tae, Child Life Specialist Marissa, Nurse Christine, Nurse Lindsey, and everyone who works on the 3F unit of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
American Cancer Society Youth Ambassadors
A group of passionate students who want to better the world in more ways than one. We are firm believers that age shouldn’t hinder our voices. We organize campaigns, fundraisers, and efforts to battle the widespread effects of cancer. We strive to rally teens from all over the globe to become proactive agents of change in the continuing fight against cancer. Our mission is to educate communities, engage the youth, inspire change-making, and support everyone impacted by cancer.
Interested in joining us? Fill out the following google form and we’d be happy to learn more about you: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeknaYlFKFy0gn_f83QFzl07NX87t4Ui-hsXJB1hauaVsOh0A/viewform
Music
Growing up I was exposed to many different kinds of musical instruments. I started piano at a very young age, didn’t enjoy playing it much as it wasn’t something that immediately captivated me even though I loved listening to people performing it. Then started learning the violin when I was 6. I had more interest in the violin as I was the one who picked this particular instrument, decided to be brave and took the Grade 7 ABRSM Examination for the instrument. After moving to the States, I found that it was too expensive to continue learning these instruments so I switched to what many would consider one of my favourite hobbies: singing. I had started singing in choirs since I was a little kid but never joined any school groups or performed solo until I came to California. I joined my middle school’s choir in 8th grade and continued doing it until 10th grade. Afterwards, I had to drop doing choir in school due to academic scheduling conflicts but I still sing and perform outside of school at any opportunities I am given. I think at least half of the reason why I love singing is because of my Filipina heritage. While I may not speak Tagalog, I definitely got the love for karaoke and singing from my Dad.
Food
Possibly the thing I love the most in the whole world. Whether it is eating, cooking, or baking something, I enjoy it all. I’ve always been a huge foodie thanks to all the different delicious cuisines I got to sample growing up but started to find enjoyment in cooking in 4th grade and baking in 10th grade.
To find some of the things I’ve cooked and baked, click on the following buttons to learn more:
