Minnesota Medical Marvel – Meet the Local Woman Cured of Stage 4 Colon Cancer

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Emma Dimery, at work as a custom picture framer.

A Discussion with Emma Dimery

You might have recently become aware of the local Minneapolis woman with Stage 4 "incurable" colon cancer, who was actually cured by a breakthrough treatment. After a decade of conventional cancer treatments, Emma Dimery of Minneapolis participated in a clinical trial for colon cancer, and has been declared cancer free. We wanted to know more about Emma as the person behind the latest Minnesota medical marvel. Emma shares her favorite restaurants, lazy day activities and artists. 

Q:  What hobbies or activities do you enjoy in your free time?

A:  In my free time I enjoy spending time around town with my chihuahua, Fergie, and my husband, Andrew. When I’m not at home baking (cookies, bars and other treats) or playing video games, I like to hang out at my tattoo shop of choice, Broken Hearts Tattoo Club in Northeast Minneapolis. Even though I do custom picture framing as my job, I still enjoy designing and framing in my spare time and might open my own business one day. Spending time with my family, with whom I’m very close, is important to me. I love arts & crafts, embroidery and sometimes, I even paint!

Emma with husband Andrew

Emma with her sister, Anne (L).

Q:  When you’re spending time around town, what’s your favorite restaurant?

A:  All my favorites are Vietnamese restaurants around the Twin Cities. Quang and Lotus Restaurant are my two local favorites. Hoa Bien in St. Paul is another great Vietnamese restaurant and all of these establishment’s foods have gotten me through surgeries and chemotherapy treatments.

Q:  What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

A:  I can’t think of one specific piece of advice, but whatever it is, I know that it came from my big sister, Anne! I always need her input and value her opinion in the highest!

Q:  What do you value most in friendships or relationships?

A:  Honesty, vulnerability, openness, understanding. I value my friends that overshare, make me laugh and understand me and my sense of humor, especially!

Q: How do you define success, and what does it mean to you?

A: My definition of success isn’t necessarily defined by a job or material possessions. To me, a successful version of myself is just about having a full and happy life. These days my motto is “I’m just happy to be here!”

Q: What causes or issues are you passionate about?

A: I am, of course, passionate about the cancer community as a whole, but especially young people with similar experiences to my own. I may still be figuring out how I can share my story in an inspirational and productive way, but it brings me great joy connecting with others who have had similar journeys. It’s important to me that people know that a cancer diagnosis is far from a death sentence these days, especially if you’re diagnosed as a young adult!  

Q: What’s your idea of a perfect day?

A: Wherever or whenever I am, I’m a lounge queen. I love a quiet, cozy day when it’s dreary out. When it’s warm, I’m out and about in the middle of a weekday, when most people are working. Either way, it’s quiet.

Q:  If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?

A: This is a hard one! Maybe someone completely absurd like Man Ray or Mike Kelly, who are a couple of my favorite artists.