I work in oncology because of my parents and best friend. My mom is a breast cancer survivor, and I lost my dad to cancer. My father had brain metastasis and was diagnosed with rectum cancer at the same time as my mom was undergoing her chemotherapy. They took care of each other, and the journey was very tough. We lost my father after a very short fight.
My parents were already retired at the time of their cancers. My mother still loves gardening and my father loved walking in the nature and reading, both loved dogs. My father didn’t understand the position he was in due to brain metastasis, and due to his cancer, his behaviour changed. At first, we thought that was due to his reaction to my mother’s cancer, but it wasn’t. Having both parents as cancer patients at the same time was quite hard for all of us.
My best friend also survived from leukemia. She is a dog lover and likes to do handwork and spending time at her summer cottage. She had a teenage girl, and of course she was afraid of dying mainly because of her. One of my most difficult situations has been when we met before her stem cell therapy. I remember her words “I don’t want to die”, and I was so powerless. Thankfully, she survived and works as a nurse currently. We celebrate her new life every year when she has her birthday.
I always wanted to work in oncology, since I worked as a nurse ages ago. These loved ones keep me motivated and inspire me in my daily work. What excites me the most about working in oncology is that we can really help our patients.
Ritva Lindgren
Senior Clinical Study Manager, Oncology, Bayer