A mother-of-two from the West Midlands has revealed how a routine visit to her GP for a sore throat led to a life-changing diagnosis of incurable blood cancer.
Deb Gascoyne, now 50, was just 34 years old in July 2009 when tests confirmed she had smouldering myeloma, an early stage of the disease. The HR professional from Hagley said the diagnosis left her terrified she would miss her children growing up.
A Fateful Decision That Saved a Life
Deb's journey began with persistent throat trouble. "It felt like a golf ball in my throat and I was wiped out from it every month," she explained. During the appointment, a nurse initially planned a throat swab but made a spur-of-the-moment choice to also send Deb for blood tests immediately.
She credits that snap decision with securing an early diagnosis she might otherwise have missed. Further scans and a bone marrow biopsy confirmed the smouldering myeloma. "I was totally shellshocked," Deb said. "Medics told me I was 'too young' for such a diagnosis."
Her own research at the time revealed a bleak prognosis, with life expectancy figures suggesting just two to five years. "There was that whole fear of not seeing your children grow up, not getting old with my husband Nick," she shared. Her children, Rebecca and Sam, were then just two and four years old.
A 16-Year Rollercoaster of Treatment and Fundraising
About a year after diagnosis, Deb's condition progressed to active cancer. She enrolled in the Myeloma XI trial in 2010, undergoing chemotherapy. In July 2011, she received her first stem cell transplant, which was followed by eight years of maintenance chemotherapy and partial remission.
To cope, Deb immersed herself in fundraising for Myeloma UK, needing "to take control of something." Her efforts have been extraordinary. To date, she has generated £248,100 for the charity, with the true total likely higher as records update monthly.
Her creative challenges have included completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks, organising a glitz and glamour ball that raised over £30,000, and undertaking "40 challenges before I was 40." These ranged from reading 40 books to eating 40 Brussels sprouts in four minutes.
Relapses, Resilience, and a Final Fundraising Push
Myeloma typically follows a relapsing-remitting pattern. Deb faced a relapse in 2019, receiving a second stem cell transplant in September 2020. She then suffered another relapse in November 2024 and began a new maintenance treatment the following month.
Despite these "blips" and hospital admissions, her determination is unwavering. She is now preparing for her final major fundraiser: a cycling journey from London to Paris in May. She aims to hit her ambitious £250,000 target. She will be joined by family, her consultant, research nurses, and other patients.
As she approaches 17 years since diagnosis this July, Deb reflects with gratitude. "I've seen my kids hit their major birthdays, watched my son with his girlfriend and my daughter become a paramedic," she said. "Those were things I could only have dreamt of when I first got that diagnosis."
She admits to grappling with survivor's guilt but focuses on offering hope. "Stories like mine show that there is always hope," Deb stated. She urges others to listen to their bodies and be their own health advocates.
Deb and her husband Nick are now prioritising making memories. "We can make the priorities the right ones," she said, planning family time and trips around Europe.
