The irony of how Alexandra Lumley came to find the field of cytology is not lost on her.
During her junior year at Utica University majoring in neuroscience, a discipline that involves study of the brain, spinal cord and nervous system, she developed symptoms including headaches, dizziness and extreme fatigue.
Then 20, the Ballston Spa native endured a terrifying four months, in which she received test after test conducted by specialist after specialist to determine what was wrong. Ultimately, it was a relief to get a diagnosis, as daunting as it was: brain tumors, but benign ones. At least the knowledge of what she had allowed her to start a course of treatment that included medication to shrink the tumors and annual MRIs to monitor whether she needed surgery.
An unexpected side effect of her condition, however, was that Lumley found herself – again, perhaps ironically – less committed to neuroscience, and especially the time it would take to obtain a doctorate. Time seemed more precious, and she no longer wanted to spend the years it would take to complete a PhD. She was at her final professional conference as an undergraduate student when she realized she needed to do something else.
“A diagnosis like mine really changes your perspective on life,” Lumley said.
Urgency overcame her. Right in her conference hotel room, she began searching for other careers. Cytology, a field she had not known about, captured her attention that night and as she looked further into it in the weeks that followed.
The appeal? “The idea that I could contribute to someone else’s diagnosis and getting them to treatment,” Lumley said. “Because it’s really scary not to know.”
Cytologists analyze cells from body tissues or fluids to determine abnormalities. They are trained to detect differences that determine certain disease states – an infectious disease, say, or a type of cancer. For Lumley, it’s a chance to be involved with patient care while still functioning primarily as a laboratory professional, rather than interacting with patients directly.
Lumley started the ACPHS cytology master’s program in August 2024 and has not regretted it. She pushes through continued symptoms like nausea and fatigue with support from a close-knit group of faculty and fellow students.
“I love cytology so much that I refuse to be limited by these side effects,” she said. “Everyone is so kind and so loving, and it makes it so much easier; I want to be able to come in every day,” she said.
She is one of 11 cytology students who received white coats on April 27, symbolizing their move from classroom to clinical work. In August, she will begin rotations at hospitals in the Capital Region and Central New York.
Finding a job afterward will not be a problem for Lumley or other graduates, as cytologists are in high demand. The Bureau of labor statistics states 12,000 new professionals are needed each year to meet the growing demand for testing, while only 115 new cytologists graduate annually.