A cancer researcher from the University of Arizona passed away at 47, succumbing to the very disease she dedicated her life to fighting.
Rachna Shroff, well-regarded for her work on pancreatic and bile duct cancers, “passed away following a battle with an aggressive cancer,” according to an announcement by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Earlier this year, Shroff was diagnosed with terminal adenocarcinoma, which originates in the glands and lining of organs. She was a mother to her son, Sachin, 13, and daughter, Simran, 17.
After having a swollen lymph node examined in May, doctors initially suspected lymphoma, but it turned out the cancer had spread further than anticipated, as reported by NBC News.
Shroff served as the associate director of clinical investigations at the University of Arizona Cancer Center. Tragically, she was set to celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary with her husband, Dr. Puneet Shroff, shortly before her passing.
Despite her illness, she cherished significant moments, like visiting colleges with her daughter and cheering on her son at baseball games.
In her honor, she initiated the Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award, raising over $1.35 million aimed at finding a cure. This initiative was aligned with “one of her final wishes,” stated the University of Arizona.
Shroff, who authored over 80 publications, reflected on her cancer journey, noting, “I’ve spent my entire life trying to eradicate cancer, primarily pancreatic cancer but also liver cancers.”
Even amid her challenges, she upheld her guiding principle, “If you can’t find the sunshine, be the sunshine,” a sentiment echoed by the ASCO, which noted her determination to uplift others despite her circumstances.
Shroff’s journey in cancer research began in the 1990s when she earned the Osler Fellowship Award in 1993, leading her to work at the University of Arizona Cancer Center laboratory.
She later pursued her studies at Brown University, obtaining a biochemistry degree in 2000, and went on to earn her medical doctorate from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia in 2004.
From 2010 to 2018, she served at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston as an associate professor before joining the University of Arizona in 2018, stepping into the role of Associate Director of Clinical Research by May 2022.
“At the Cancer Center, she built a high-performing gastrointestinal oncology program and expanded clinical trials in Southern Arizona, ensuring patients had access to the latest scientific advances,” the university expressed, highlighting her cherished roles as a wife, mother, and friend.
She was also active in ASCO panels related to gastrointestinal cancers.
Tributes in memory of Shroff have been shared on the Conquer webpage, with one mourner stating her genius was “incredible, forever an inspiration.” Another added that she was “a bright light who impacted everyone she encountered,” while a third expressed gratitude for the time spent working with her, recognizing her commitment to helping vulnerable patients.
