“As more and more people survive cancer, it’s becoming increasingly important to figure out how do they live their lives afterwards. I want to understand why some people experience more symptoms than others, or why they last longer. Patient surveys among people diagnosed with lymphoma or multiple myeloma show that about thirty percent continue to experience long-term symptoms. My research shows that people’s quality of life after surviving these cancer types is affected by much more than the disease or its treatment alone. Personal and environmental factors such as age, lifestyle, education, and the presence of other chronic conditions also play an important role.
In my thesis, I emphasize the importance of not just focusing on the disease, but to consider the person living with it. By understanding the full picture, we can provide earlier and more personalized support to patients. This requires more integrated care that combines medical, psychological, and social support. We aim to prevent symptoms when possible, or help patients manage them better. Many patients appreciate that we take these aspects into consideration.”
Afke Ekels will defend her thesis on November 18.
Research at the Netherlands Cancer Institute is financially supported by KWF Dutch Cancer Society and the AVL Foundation
prof. dr. L. (Lonneke) van de Poll
dr. S. (Simone) Oerlemans & dr. E.F.M. (Ward) Posthuma