“While doing my Master's in medicine, I worked in Medical Oncology at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. Back then, I already wanted to do my PhD research here one day. I first encountered neuroendocrine tumors (NET) here, and they fascinated me. My curiosity led me to focus on this special, rare cancer, which can secrete hormones: like serotonin in the small intestine. This leads to the production of extra connective tissue, both around the small intestine itself, and in the heart. You ideally want to treat it as early as possible, before the heart valves start deteriorating or part of the intestine dies. I discovered that the value of protein NT-proBNP, which can be measured in blood, provides a good indication of whether a patient needs additional heart monitoring I also investigated whether it makes sense to surgically remove the primary tumor if it has already metastasized. To do this, I compared our clinic where we perform this surgery, with a center in Liverpool, where they wait until symptoms arise. The survival rate of Dutch patients turned out to be significantly higher. I am now happily training as a medical oncologist at the Diakonessenhuis in Utrecht.”
Sonja will defend her thesis today, on April 25. Good luck, Sonja!