“My mission is to better understand cognitive problems in people with cancer, so that they can be supported in a more targeted and effective way,” says Schagen. “I see this award as a recognition of the importance of care and research into cognitive problems after cancer, both in patients with brain tumors and in patients with non-central nervous system diseases.”
Many people with cancer experience cognitive problems during or after their disease and treatment. These problems, such as changes in memory, attention, or information processing, can strongly affect daily functioning and quality of life. Understanding and treating these effects is an important and growing field within cancer research and practice.
A growing group of cancer survivors experience long-term or late effects of the disease or its treatment. These can be physical, psychological, or social and can impede their quality of life and cause huge societal costs. The Netherlands Cancer Institute is a leading institute in the field of cancer survivorship research and care.