Susan Gasson, a 75-year-old grandmother of four from Greenwich, London, has been living with cancer for 40 years after four separate diagnoses. She credits a new clinical trial with shrinking her lung tumour and allowing her to celebrate family milestones.
Gasson's cancer journey began in the 1980s with breast cancer, followed by cervical, thyroid, and most recently, lung cancer in 2020. She has received most of her treatment at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, including her latest surgery to remove the lung cancer, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
From Pea-Sized Lump to Four Diagnoses
In her early 30s, Gasson discovered a pea-sized lump in her right breast. After seeing her GP in Hertfordshire, she was referred to the Marsden, where doctors diagnosed breast cancer and performed a lumpectomy. She required no further treatment for that cancer.
Years later, after experiencing heavy periods and anaemia, doctors found fibroids and performed a hysterectomy at Watford General Hospital in 1985-6. The surgery revealed pre-cancerous cells, which were removed. "That was a cervical cancer, but they got it all out," Gasson explained.
Following her father's death from oesophageal cancer and her mother's thyroid cancer treatment, Gasson discovered a lump in her neck. In July 1996, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and underwent surgery at the Marsden's Chelsea site, followed by radiotherapy at the Sutton site.
Clinical Trial Offers New Hope
Her fourth diagnosis came in 2020 after a persistent cough. An X-ray revealed an abnormal mass, and she was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). After surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the cancer returned, leading to a robotic biopsy and referral to a new clinical trial.
According to the Marsden, this trial targets the HER2 gene mutation, which can stimulate excessive cell growth. Before this trial, there was no targeted therapy for patients with this mutation, meaning treatment relied on repeated chemotherapy with significant side effects.
Now, Gasson takes one tablet daily and has a CT scan every six weeks. Her lung tumour has shrunk, and she has not needed further chemotherapy. "My cancer has shrunk and the side effects have been minimal, allowing me to have a much better quality of life," she said.
Staying Positive and Keeping Busy
Gasson credits her positive mindset and staying busy for helping her through each diagnosis. She returned to college in her mid-30s to study advertising, marketing, and public relations, and she is involved with the Barbican and the Guildhall Art Gallery committee.
"I feel lucky to still be here. I'm lucky to be alive," she told PA Real Life. "I'm still here and I get to watch my grandchildren grow up."
She added: "Thanks to this trial, I got to see my first granddaughter go off to university and I hope to see her graduate."
Gasson advises other cancer patients to "stay positive" and "keep busy." Her children describe her as "stubborn, independent, courageous" and "resilient, selfless, loving."
