Work often overlaps with personal life, but “Ray” never could have predicted that the same day he submitted his National Science Foundation grant application for his research lab would also be the day he discovered the lump on his neck that led to a cancer diagnosis.
After my experience with cancer, I knew I wanted to use my knowledge, my cancer experience, and my ability to do conceptual discovery research to flip it and contribute to cancer drug discovery research.
By the time Ray was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer, tumors had spread on his body. A PET scan revealed the true extent of the primary tumor’s growth, and his doctors were concerned that his tumor was too intertwined with the brain tissue to try to surgically remove it. Instead, they implemented an aggressive regimen of chemotherapy and radiation.
Ray credits his wife, kids, and his healthy lifestyle for helping him endure the demanding treatments. By the end of treatment, his PET scan showed incredible progress with a significant reduction in tumors. Ray was inspired to dedicate his scientific expertise to cancer research to help other patients.
Over the next few years, he modified his lab’s focus and began applying for and receiving grants for the development of new, innovative cancer treatments.