In this interview, Lucie Strublova shares her experience with a neuroendocrine tumour, reflecting on how her diagnosis at age 10 shaped her outlook on life. Through her story, Lucie emphasises the importance of family support, resilience, and finding purpose in helping others, offering profound insights into overcoming adversity with a smile.

neuroendocrine tumour survivor

What is your name? How old are you? Where are you from?

My name is Lucie Štrublová, I´m 32 years old, I come from a town called Znojmo, which is in the south of the Czech Republic

What’s your diagnosis?

My diagnosis is a neuroendocrine tumour, localised to the liver and adjacent lymph nodes.

How and when did you find out about your diagnosis?

I found out about my diagnosis when I was 10 years old, but I have had health problems since I was 6 years old. I became very thin, vomited, my skin turned red and I couldn’t do my normal activities.

What has the cancer experience taught you?

My experience with cancer taught me to appreciate life.

What helped you the most during the treatment process?

What helped me the most was the support of my family, the great staff at the hospital, music, reading and sharing with other patients.

What has changed in your life since your cancer diagnosis?

Everything has changed, my whole life, my perception of life and my view of the world.

If you were to meet yourself the day you heard a diagnosis, what would you say to your younger self?

I would strongly hug myself and tell him not to worry, that everything in life happens for a reason.

What would you like to accomplish within EU-CAYAS-NET?

As I am a national patient leader I would like to gain experience and learn best practices that can be applied within our country. And help amplify the voice of patients.

Try to describe yourself in 3 sentences.

I am a woman who loves life, I love to laugh and spend time with people who fill my heart with love. When I decide to do something, I go all in. I’m stubborn.

What are your achievements to date (formal or informal, education or hobby)?

My greatest achievement in life is my daughter Anita. I am also proud to be a co-founder of the patient organisation “Together to Smile”. I have a degree in Nutritional Therapy and work as a researcher and nutritional therapist with paediatric and adolescent cancer patients, particularly focusing on those undergoing puberty cancer treatments.

What do you do in your free time?

In my spare time I enjoy my family, friends, dancing and travelling.

What do you need/want to have a crash course in?

In the English language :))

neuroendocrine tumour AYA survivor

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

When you’re going through hell, keep going.

What is your favourite motto in life?

We see rightly only with the heart. What is important is invisible to the eyes. – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

What makes you instantly light up?

When I see a smile.

What do you do to relax?

Dancing, being in nature, reading books and taking a hot bath.

What keeps you going every day?

Love for life and faith in the activities I do.

What in your life do you feel most grateful for?

The greatest gratitude I feel is for life itself, for every day lived, for the time spent with my family and friends, for the work I love.

What makes your life feel purposeful?

Thanks to my daughter, thanks to my work for the patient organisation and helping others.

How do you cope when things get hard?

I have true friends in my life who support me. It helps me to share with other recovered patients in our organisation.

Are there any websites that you visit daily?

YouTube, the website of our patient organisation.

What is one book you would definitely recommend to read?

I would recommend reading the book “The Star Rover” by Jack London.

And this is what you absolutely have to know about me too:

Helping and supporting others gives my life deep meaning.