Chemo and Coursework: Brave Southampton College Student
to Earn Nursing Degree while Battling Colon Cancer

Brookville, NY – When Iwona Gotowick graduates from Southampton College of Long Island University this Mother’s Day, she will have completed one of the greatest challenges of her life.

Three years ago, the Southampton resident was diagnosed with colon cancer that had already spread to her liver. Since that time she has endured continuous chemotherapy treatments and survived four major surgeries.

For a while after she was diagnosed, Gotowick, 43, stopped attending the nursing classes she had been taking. “My health was more important,” she says, “but I never wanted to give up.” Gotowick returned to her studies as soon as she was able, and been taking it slow – one class at a time – as she continued to work toward her bachelor of science degree in nursing.

Due to the serious side effects of chemotherapy, Gotowick cannot push herself too hard. “I have good days and bad days,” the Southampton resident said. “On the good days I study as much as I can. On the bad days, I stay in bed. But I’m not a person who stays in bed all the time. When I feel better I do what I need to do.”

Having chosen nursing as an occupation before her diagnosis, Gotowick says she’s grateful for her education. “Thanks to my education, I know more about my disease. I can talk to others about cancer and health care.” She said she tries to educate people as much as she can and even convinced her husband to go for a routine colonoscopy.

Although her current prognosis is uncertain, Gotowick has plenty of future plans. Eventually she’d like to study for her master’s degree in nursing. “I love the field,” she says, adding that she would like to work in an operating room or as an oncology nurse.

“I will know what other people are feeling when they are receiving their chemotherapy,” she said. “I would know what they are going through since I experienced it.”

On Mother's Day, Sunday, May 14, Gotowick plans to march to pomp and circumstance as one of more than 2,300 students who will attend the 48th commencement exercises at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. This year, C.W. Post’s commencement ceremonies also include graduates from Southampton College and the Southampton Graduate Campus of Long Island University.