“I first heard about the MR-Linac during my Bachelor’s study: a radiotherapy device combined with an MRI scanner. Working with a system like that felt like science fiction back then. But by the time I started looking for a PhD position, it turned out to be very real and highly relevant. The technology offers major benefits, especially for patients with rectal cancer. There tends to be a lot of movement in area around the rectum because of air and stool, so tumors can be hard to see. We used to create a single treatment plan in advance, but nowadays we adjust the plan as we go. As soon as the patient is positioned on the machine, we take an MRI scan. During my PhD, I investigated whether we could speed up the process of outlining the tumor based on these images. It turns out that we can, with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). In approximately half of all cases, this method makes the treatment even more precise. By safely reducing the treatment margins, we can deliver a higher dose very accurately, sparing healthy organs and potentially preventing surgery for patients. Being able to contribute to this project has been incredibly meaningful to me, as has my PhD journey as a whole. It has shaped me as a person. Coming from Suriname, it took me a while to get used to the Dutch directness, but now I actually find it refreshing.”
Chavelli Kensen is a Policy Officer for Medical Technology at the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. She will defend her PhD thesis on November 12. Good luck, Chavelli!
Research at the Netherlands Cancer Institute is financially supported by KWF Dutch Cancer Society and the AVL Foundation
prof. dr. U.A. (Uulke) van der Heide & prof. dr. C.A.M. (Corrie) Marijnen
dr. T.M. (Tomas) Janssen