A mother who feared she would not see her children grow up after a routine doctor's visit for a sore throat uncovered an incurable blood cancer has spoken of feeling "lucky" sixteen years after her diagnosis.
Deb Gascoyne, 50, from Hagley in the West Midlands, had her world turned upside down in July 2009. What began as a persistent sore throat led to a precautionary blood test, which detected smouldering myeloma – an early, asymptomatic form of the cancer.
A Life-Changing Decision
Deb, then aged 34 and a busy HR professional with two young children, visited her GP feeling constantly unwell. "It felt like a golf ball in my throat," she recalled. A nurse initially planned a throat swab but made a last-minute decision to also send off blood samples.
That split-second choice proved critical. Further tests, including a bone marrow biopsy, confirmed the smouldering myeloma diagnosis. "I was totally shellshocked," Deb said. Research at the time suggested a life expectancy of just two to five years, plunging her into fears for her family's future.
"There was that whole fear of not seeing your children grow up, not getting old with my husband Nick," she explained. "All the things we had plans for were suddenly up in the air."
The Rollercoaster of Treatment and Fundraising
About a year later, Deb's condition progressed to active myeloma. She began chemotherapy as part of the Myeloma XI trial in 2010. Seeking control, she simultaneously threw herself into fundraising for Myeloma UK.
Her first event was completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge. This sparked a remarkable fundraising journey that has seen her organise glamour balls, silent discos, and even a challenge to eat 40 Brussels sprouts in four minutes.
Her health journey has followed a relapsing-remitting pattern common with myeloma. She underwent her first stem cell transplant in July 2011, enjoying eight years of partial remission. After a relapse in 2019, she had a second transplant in September 2020, and relapsed again in November 2024. She is currently on a new maintenance treatment.
Creating a Legacy of Hope
Throughout the ups and downs, fundraising has been a constant. To date, Deb has raised an incredible £248,100 for Myeloma UK, with the true figure likely higher due to monthly updates. Her goal is to reach £250,000.
Her final planned challenge is a cycle from London to Paris in May 2026, where she will be joined by family, her medical team, and friends from the myeloma community.
Now, with her children Rebecca, 21, and Sam, 19, having grown up, Deb reflects on the milestones she has witnessed. "I’ve seen my kids hit their major birthdays, watched my son with his girlfriend and my daughter becoming a paramedic," she said. "I am really lucky and really blessed."
She acknowledges survivor's guilt but wants her story to offer hope. "I like to think that stories like mine show that there is always hope," Deb stated. She urges others to listen to their bodies and advocate for their health.
As she and her husband Nick plan to take time to travel and make memories, Deb's focus remains on awareness and funding for a cure. "The whole journey has been a rollercoaster," she said, "but what’s nice is there is a community out there… and they help you remember that you’re not alone."
