Katherine LaNasa says her real-life experience with breast cancer deeply influenced the way she brought Dana to life on The Pitt.
The actress, 59, explained that going through treatment helped her better understand both sides of hospital care — not only what medical staff provide, but also what it feels like to be the patient receiving it.
LaNasa was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in February 2023. She later underwent surgery and three weeks of daily radiation treatments, while also dealing with complications that led to multiple emergency room visits.
She was eventually declared cancer-free.
Looking back, LaNasa said the kindness she received from nurses and medical staff stayed with her.
Small acts — such as offering a warm blanket, taking extra time to explain what was happening or showing compassion during stressful moments — made a major difference in her experience.
That perspective became especially important when she stepped into the role of Dana, the tough but deeply caring charge nurse on The Pitt.
LaNasa said her own time as a patient helped her connect with the fear and uncertainty people can feel when entering a hospital, particularly while going through something as serious as radiation treatment.
She believes that experience directly shaped how she portrayed Dana’s balance of strength, authority and empathy.
Fans were introduced to Dana when The Pitt debuted in January 2025.
The HBO medical drama follows the staff of a fictional Pittsburgh emergency room over the course of a single 15-hour shift, with each episode representing roughly one hour.
Dana acts as one of the emotional anchors of the hospital as the staff confront intense situations involving trauma, overdoses, violence, difficult deaths and personal crises.
Throughout the series, Dana is shown as someone who can take control of a chaotic emergency room while still maintaining compassion for patients and coworkers.
LaNasa said she does not believe she would have played the role in quite the same way without having gone through cancer herself.
She described the experience as helping her understand the complexity of being both strong and vulnerable — qualities that became central to Dana.
The connection became even more powerful once LaNasa arrived on The Pitt set.
She described the hospital environment as extremely immersive and realistic, saying it immediately reminded her of the time she had spent in hospitals during treatment.
Although that realism initially brought back some stress, it also helped the character click for her.
LaNasa’s performance ultimately earned major recognition.
She won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in September 2025 for playing Dana.
She described being able to turn such a difficult chapter of her life into something meaningful on screen as an unexpected “silver lining.”
LaNasa is also using her experience to encourage other women to take their health seriously.
Through her partnership with Novartis on the “Your Attention, Please” campaign, she is promoting annual screenings and the importance of early detection.
Seasons 1 and 2 of The Pitt are streaming on HBO Max.
