Actress Katherine LaNasa, best known for her role as Nurse Dana Evans on The Pitt, has opened up about her personal battle with cancer—and how it profoundly influenced her performance on the show. In an emotional essay for Women’s Health, the 58-year-old shared intimate details about her diagnosis, recovery, and how her experience helped bring authenticity and heart to her character.
How Real-Life Experience Shaped Her Role
Playing the calm, reliable charge nurse of the ER, LaNasa drew directly from her own health crisis. “My performance as the steadfast eyes and ears of the ER was also informed by my own health struggle and the calm, compassionate nurses I met during treatment,” she revealed.
Facing the Diagnosis With Strength
Her initial reaction to the cancer diagnosis was surprisingly centered and composed. “It hit me like a ton of bricks, but I was so fortunate that my very first thought was, why not me? rather than why me? It happens to so many people, and coming from that perspective helped me stay positive throughout my treatment.”
A Wake-Up Call to Prioritize Self-Care
Reflecting on what may have contributed to her condition, LaNasa acknowledged years of accumulated stress. “On some level, I do think that a lifetime of stress contributed to my cancer—the combination of dense breasts, alcoholism, and stress wasn’t great. Being diagnosed made me rethink how much outside pressure I allow in.”
Healing Through Love and Perspective
LaNasa emphasized the role that emotional mindset played in her healing. “I started framing everything as love,” she said. “The radiation machines, the treatments—they became symbols of care and hope. That shift in thinking was incredibly powerful.”
Nurses as Lifesavers in Every Way
Among the most memorable parts of her experience were the nurses. “They’d bring me a warm blanket during scans. That one gesture made me feel like someone cared,” she said. That moment inspired a scene in The Pitt, where Dana quietly places a blanket on a struggling patient—mirroring LaNasa’s real-life experience.
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How The Pitt Script Found Her at the Right Time
Nearly a year after finishing treatment, LaNasa received the script for The Pitt. What stood out was a heartfelt note from show creator Noah Wyle, urging actors to “fully immerse” themselves in their characters. That authenticity resonated with LaNasa, who felt deeply connected to the material. “They might want me,” she thought.
Training With Doctors Before Shooting
Before filming, the cast participated in a two-week “doctor school,” gaining insights into ER procedures and medical realities. It was during this training that LaNasa realized just how much her cancer journey had already informed her portrayal of Dana.
A Role That Became a Tribute
“My goal was for Dana to be a love letter—a thank you—to all the people who treated me so kindly, so lovingly, and so thoughtfully when I had cancer,” she said. For LaNasa, the role wasn’t just another acting job—it was a spiritual journey that transformed pain into purpose.
Fans can now look forward to more of Katherine LaNasa’s powerful performance as The Pitt prepares for its upcoming second season on Netflix.
