The diagnosis of incurable blood cancer can be a devastating blow to families across the UK. For Dr Lucy Goudswaard, that reality became all too familiar when her mother, Joy, was told she had myeloma in 2021. After undergoing intensive chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, Joy achieved partial remission – but the experience has left an indelible mark on Lucy.
As a University of Bristol scientist with a background in cardiovascular research, Lucy has made the decision to shift her focus to understanding and preventing myeloma. Her study will delve into data from individuals living with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), a plasma cell disorder that can lead to cancer.
'When I'm working long hours or navigating challenges in my research, it's a big motivation knowing that my work could help people like my mum,' Lucy explained. 'If we can identify the causes of myeloma, it may open up new avenues for prevention.'
Fiona Gebbie, a nurse with Blood Cancer UK, echoed the importance of continued research funding for blood cancers: 'Research is the only way we'll beat blood cancer – and it's essential that we keep investing in projects like Dr Goudswaard's to bring us closer to finding effective treatments.'