'Passionate' Ohio Woman, 35, Who Advocated for Better Cancer Care Dies of Disease

Tributes have been paid to patient advocate Tori Geib—who campaigned for better treatment options for cancer patients in Ohio—after she died of the disease at the age of 35.

Geib, from Ohio, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 just after she turned 30. She was working as an assistant sous chef and food and beverage manager at the time. Geib had a metastatic form of cancer, meaning it had spread from the breast to other parts of the body.

After living with the disease for almost five years, she died on November 1.

Geib campaigned against the "fail first" policy that sees health insurance companies specify that late-stage cancer patients be given cheaper treatments before they are upgraded to more expensive options if they do not work.

The former sous chef was put on a fail-first treatment for three months. She previously told The Columbus Dispatch: "My cancer could have been stabilized.

"Knowing that the science was there and everything was lined up except for the insurance... it almost seems criminal to do that to people."

In December 2020, Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 252 into law, to end the use of fail first drug coverage policies for stage four metastatic cancer patients.

She told The Columbus Dispatch at the time: "I'm seeing too many young men and young women dying of this disease when we have the technology to keep them alive.

"We have to make sure we're giving them the most up-to-date treatment to keep people living longer. That's really the goal."

According to an obituary, in addition to being committed campaigner, Geib was a passionate cook and baker, and competed at county and state fair competitions. She also loved traveling, and music—singing in a choir at her church and playing several instruments.

Dr. Bhuvana Ramaswamy, leader of the breast medical oncology team at Ohio State University's James Cancer Hospital where Geib was treated, told The Columbus Dispatch: "She was a young woman diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer who could have just focused on her cancer and her life.

"But instead, she changed her challenge into her mission, becoming a voice for patients with metastatic breast cancer locally and nationally."

Breast cancer organization Susan G. Komen tweeted: "Our hearts are breaking at the news that our dear friend and longtime Komen advocate, Tori Geib @ChefGeib, has died from #metastaticbreastcancer. Tori was a passionate and compassionate voice for all those living w/ MBC [metastatic breast cancer], who was always willing to share her story to help others."

Sharing a link to a news report on her death, the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium tweeted that Geib "truly made a difference."

"A proud Buckeye and chef who believed in dreaming big, her example will continue to inspire us," Susan G. Komen tweeted.

Non-profit Living Beyond Breast Cancer tweeted: "Tori Geib, LBBC Hear My Voice Metastatic Breast Cancer Advocate, has passed away. She was diagnosed with MBC in 2016 at age 30. She was a fierce and passionate advocate for those living with MBC, raising her voice for change through countless advocacy efforts. She will be missed."