A 50-year-old mother-of-two, Deb Gascoyne, faced a life-altering diagnosis of smouldering myeloma, a precursor to blood cancer, back in July 2009 at the age of 34. This diagnosis came after a routine visit to her GP for a persistent sore throat. Thanks to a nurse’s decision to conduct blood tests that day, Deb received an early diagnosis that potentially saved her life.
Despite battling two cancer relapses since then, Deb has been present for important family milestones alongside her husband Nick and their children, Rebecca, 21, and Sam, 19. She has also committed herself to fundraising, aiming to raise £250,000 to support research for treatments and a cure. To date, she has raised £248,100 for Myeloma UK and is planning a final fundraising effort of a cycling journey from London to Paris in May to reach her target.
While Deb has faced survivor’s guilt and moments of feeling like she surpassed life expectations, she considers herself fortunate to have witnessed her children reach significant birthdays and achieve personal milestones. Reflecting on her journey, Deb emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and urges others to listen to their bodies and advocate for their health.
Deb’s journey with myeloma has been a rollercoaster, but she finds solace in the supportive community around her. As she nears the 17-year mark since her diagnosis, she remains grateful for the time she has had and hopes to inspire others facing similar challenges to maintain hope and positivity. She continues her fundraising efforts and encourages those interested in supporting the cause to visit her fundraising page or the Myeloma UK website for more information.