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Daughter's Cancer Research Fueled by Mother's Diagnosis
16 Jun
Summary
- Scientist shifts research focus to myeloma after mother's diagnosis.
- The research aims to understand and prevent the incurable blood cancer.
- Mother described initial treatment as a "year of hell".
A scientist at the University of Bristol has pivoted her research focus to tackling myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, inspired by her mother's recent diagnosis. This personal motivation has led her to pursue a fellowship aimed at understanding and preventing the disease that affects bones and other body parts.
The scientist described her new work as a "great feeling" and a "silver lining" in an otherwise difficult period. Her mother, Joy Goudswaard, who lives near Stroud in Gloucestershire, was diagnosed with myeloma in 2021 after experiencing persistent pain. Initially unaware of any family history of cancer, she found the diagnosis unexpected.
Joy Goudswaard recounted the initial 12 months of treatment as a "year of hell," undergoing intensive chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, which took a significant toll on her health and appearance. Her daughter acknowledged the difficulty of witnessing her mother's severe illness during this period.
