Who is Grace Grant? What to know about the 24-year-old’s pancreatic cancer battle

Grace Grant, 24, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer after a swollen eye led doctors to discover tumours

Grace Grant, a 24-year-old graduate student and golfer, has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer after initially believing a swollen eye was pink eye.

Grant told PEOPLE that she woke up with a swollen eye in May and visited urgent care, where she was treated for what doctors believed was pink eye. When antibiotics and steroid drops did not improve her condition, she returned to her parents’ home in Florida and was referred to a neurologist.

During the examination, the neurologist noticed an unusual issue with blood flow in the left side of her neck and sent Grant to the emergency room. Doctors discovered a tumour in her neck and initially considered lymphoma because of her age.

A PET scan later revealed activity in Grant’s pancreas. Further testing, including a biopsy at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, confirmed that a small pancreatic tumour contained the same cancer cells found in the tumour in her neck.

Grant said the pancreatic cancer diagnosis was particularly unexpected because she had no pain and considered herself healthy.

She is currently undergoing chemotherapy and has also frozen her eggs before continuing treatment. Grant plans to complete her master’s degree in fashion through online courses while receiving treatment.

Despite her stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Grant has remained optimistic and credits her experience playing golf with helping her maintain a strong mindset.

She is also aware of new treatment options and said daraxonrasib could become part of her treatment plan if chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are unsuccessful.

Grant has encouraged others facing serious illnesses to take each day at a time and focus on positive moments while continuing their treatment.