Nikki Tucker knew that something wasn’t right.

For weeks, the 21-year-old from Oklahoma had been feeling under the weather. Fevers, frequent infections, fatigue, and body aches. It didn’t feel life-threatening, but it did feel like it was worth checking out.

So, Nikki made a visit to her primary care doctor in Edmond, Oklahoma. The doctor decided to run a few tests through the clinic’s laboratory collaborator, Quest Diagnostics.

The results shocked and horrified both doctor and patient: Acute Myeloid Leukemia, or AML. Blood cancer.

Her first thought was “Isn’t this cancer for old people?”.

And Nikki knew what she was talking about. She was in the middle of her PhD in Neuroscience and had always had an interest in the human body. Though she didn’t know the statistics off hand at the time, they didn’t surprise her. 

AML is a rare cancer, with only about 23,000 diagnoses expected in the U.S. this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Getting it at Nikki’s age is even more rare, given that the average age at diagnosis is 69, nearly 50 years older than Nikki. Even with treatment, the condition can progress rapidly and possibly lead to death.

All at once, an avalanche of worrying thoughts poured into Nikki’s head:

• “What am I going to do now?”
• “What will my family think?”
• “Is there anyone else I can speak to who has gone through this?” 
• “Am I going to die?”

After Nikki, her boyfriend, and her family cycled through these difficult emotions, they got to work.

Given the rarity and complexity of her case, Nikki’s care was immediately transferred to the Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma. They helped her through treatment, called pheresis, to remove the excess white blood cells that the disease creates that could have clogged her kidneys. She was also given what doctors call a 7+3 regimen of chemotherapy, which combines drugs called cytarabine (taken on the first seven days) with a class of drugs called anthracyclines (taken on the first three days) to help lower the leukemia cell count.

Behind the scenes, her doctors trusted Quest to guide her care. Their comprehensive testing and monitoring panels, as well as their strong relationship with institutions like Stephenson, helped illuminate her path to better health.

It wasn’t easy. As anyone who has gone through chemotherapy can tell you, it is a nightmare of symptoms, both physical and mental. And each was made even more difficult by the fact that no one getting the same AML treatment alongside her was even close to her age.

But through many ups and downs, trials and tribulations, Nikki made it through to the other side. Nauseous days and sleepless nights ultimately gave way to a brighter morning.

This was in 2006. Nikki has now been cancer-free for 20 years. Her boyfriend at the time is now her husband, and she is still close with Dr. Adam Asch of Stephenson.

And her cancer journey has remained an important part of her professional story.

After her diagnosis, she developed a stronger interest in cancer and eventually became a physician assistant for children with hematologic and oncologic conditions. Then, as luck would have it, she happened to seek a role at the company that had her back on her cancer journey, Quest, as a Senior National Sales Training Manager for the company’s cancer solutions. In this role, she helps make sure Quest’s commercial representatives are up to speed on the latest and greatest in cancer testing, so those representatives can get that information to clinicians and their patients.

And Nikki’s story continues to inspire. On October 24 of this year, the Kansas City Chapter of Blood Cancer United named Nikki their Honored Hero at their annual Light the Night event celebrating and remembering those touched by the disease.

Nikki Tucker was the Honored Hero at the Kansas City Light the Night event on October 24, 2026

“It brings up a lot of emotions to share my experience, but it’s a privilege to do so because so many people have been touched by cancer,” said Nikki. “My hope is to inspire. If I can fight through this disease and find a way forward, maybe my story can give others the hope they need to keep going, too.”

Quest Diagnostics is proud to support this event because it reflects the company’s mission to empower better health with diagnostic insights. Like Blood Cancer United, we share a commitment to improving the quality of life for blood cancer patients through education, support, and research; working toward a future where blood cancer is a thing of the past.

Two decades ago, Nikki’s clinical journey was guided by the diagnostic testing expertise of Quest Diagnostics. Today, the Quest laboratory in Lenexa, Kansas continues to deliver trusted insights and is pioneering the future of leukemia detection. It recently went live with a state-of-the-art diagnostic tool that integrates advanced artificial intelligence to streamline the detection of blood cancers. By automating the identification of complex cellular abnormalities, this technology empowers pathologists to deliver faster, highly precise insights when every second counts.

Quest also offers a strong menu of Leukemia testing, from broad diagnostic tools like CBCs and LeukoVantage®, to targeted solutions like AML Rapid Mutation Panel. And the company is continuing to innovate in other areas of cancer as well, including its Flow Cytometry MRD test for Multiple Myeloma, and its Haystack MRD test for solid tumors.