Share Your Cancer Experience

Hans Rueffert grew up in the kitchen of his family’s restaurant, spending his free time washing dishes and shucking oysters. These childhood experiences left a lasting impact and jumpstarted his love of  cooking. While Chef Rueffert’s passion for food began in his family’s restaurant, it certainly did not end there.

He decided to make food his career by becoming an acclaimed chef, restaurant owner, and cookbook author. In 2005, Rueffert boosted his career when he  competed on the Next Food Network Star. He was selected to  participate from an 8,000 person applicant pool and finished the competition in third place.

While his performance on the Next Food Network Star changed his life, his life would change again just two weeks after the show stopped taping when he was diagnosed with stage III stomach cancer.

Rueffert underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and a surgery that removed half of his stomach and esophagus to treat his cancer, which is how he affectionately became known as the chef with no stomach. 

Rueffert is now cancer free. Since then, one of the ways he wants to help people living with cancer is by inviting them to join the Cancer Experience Registry.

The Cancer Experience Registry is an online community that allows people facing cancer to share their experience,  identify the issues that impact their lives, take surveys, access resources and learn from each other. It is free, confidential and open to anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer or provides care to someone with cancer.

Join Chef Rueffert in making your voice heard and complete the Cancer Experience Registry today.