Science Talk

Kate Wilson was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer at the age of 43 and discovered she was carrying a BRCA gene mutation. She was prescribed a targeted drug called olaparib and five years on the cancer is stable. Here she explains why, thanks to new treatments, advanced cancer patients like her are navigating a new landscape, one where the language we use has yet to catch up.

Sonia Bhandal was just 14 when she lost her mum to secondary breast cancer. Then at the age of 28, she found a malignant lump in her own breast. Shortly afterwards she discovered that she carries the BRCA2 gene mutation, putting her at an increased risk of developing various cancers. Today, exactly 29 years since scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, identified the BRCA2 gene, Sonia, now 36, shares her story.

While advances in research mean that breast cancer is being treated more successfully than ever before, the worry of recurrence remains for many patients. Here, Isy Godfrey finds out what scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, are doing to tackle this complex problem.

Ahead of the AACR-San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, we caught up with two ICR researchers and their supervisor to find out why the multidisciplinary research environment of the ICR is so valuable for developing the scientific leaders of the future.

When Natasha, 51, was told she had stage 2 DCIS breast cancer in November 2018, she became the third woman in her family to receive such a diagnosis. Now nearly six years on and cancer free, Natasha shares her story.

Natalie Pearce, 52, was diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer in November 2012. She subsequently discovered she carries the BRCA1 gene mutation, putting her at a higher risk of developing various cancers. Following surgery and treatment, Natalie has been cancer free since April 2013.

Jesse was two years old when he was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a type of blood and bone marrow cancer, in November 2023. Now, a year since his diagnosis and thankfully in remission, Jesse’s mum, Polly, shares their story to mark World Children’s Day.

Sue Vincent was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007 when she was 54. In 2010 she discovered it had spread and was inoperable. She was told she had just months to live, until a new targeted treatment changed everything. Sue lives with her husband Pete in Solihull, Birmingham – between them they have four daughters and five grandchildren, with another on the way next year.

Dr Jessica May Hislop joined The Institute of Cancer Research as a Bioinformatician in the Houlston Lab in the Genetics and Epidemiology division. Together with her colleagues, she is working towards understanding how mutations in our DNA lead to cancer. But her career almost took an entirely different direction.

Alex Naim, 27, a solution engineer living in London, completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon and raised thousands of pounds for our vital research, even though running is one of his least favourite pastimes. Here he tells his story.

Professor Amy Berrington explains how she and a team of scientists from around the world took on the challenge of updating a classic text for cancer researchers.

Dr Rachael Natrajan leads the Functional Genomics group in the Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre at the Institute of Cancer Research. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, she reveals what it was like to take on the biggest challenge of her life, cycling from Venice to Rome in just four days to raise funds for our vital research.

We’re now 100 days into the new Government and the ICR’s Advocacy Manager, Ollie Richards, outlines what academic institutions need the Government to prioritise to help us on our mission to continue making the discoveries that defeat cancer.

Shelley Harding is a familiar face at the Terry Fox UK runs. A Canadian, who moved to London 23 years ago, she sells official event T-shirts to raise vital funds for The Institute of Cancer Research. This year she attended Terry Fox Runs in Battersea Park, Hampshire and will be at Wrexham this weekend. Last month she was invited to a special Terry Fox reception at Canada House in London, where Fred Fox spoke about his brother.

Professor Paul Workman is Harrap Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at The Institute of Cancer Research. He has worked in the field of cancer research for more than 50 years and was the ICR’s Chief Executive and President from 2014 to 2021. During his leadership, he oversaw many of our scientific successes – including the development of smarter and kinder forms of radiotherapy. Now, after being diagnosed with prostate cancer himself in 2022, he reflects on his experience as both a leading cancer scientist and now a cancer patient.

Alison and Brian set up the Doing It For Daniel Foundation in memory of their son, Daniel, who was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour at the age of 16 and passed away seven months later. Here, Alison shares their story and explains why the ICR’s research into a cure for Daniel’s cancer is so important.

Andrea Calderon, 28, is originally from Texas, USA, but she will be running the Berlin Marathon this Sunday 29th September in honour of her younger brother, Edu, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the age of five. Edu passed away in 2020 when he was 11 years old.

Collaboration is essential in science. By sharing knowledge, ideas and skills, we can turn a disease from one that is always fatal into one that is often treatable or even curable. This collaboration can take many forms and involve multiple groups of people. Here, Isy Godfrey meets two scientists who work closely not only with each other, their other team members and their peers abroad but also with two of our amazing family charity partners.

Postdoctoral researchers – also known as postdocs – are essential to scientific research. After completing their doctoral studies, a researcher might choose to continue their training and academic career progression through a fixed term postdoc position. Dr Elise Glen, our Head of Researcher Development, writes about why the ICR is such a great place to do a postdoc.

Terry Fox is a Canadian hero. He lost his leg to osteogenic sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, but in 1980 began a ‘Marathon of Hope’ – running 3,339 miles over 143 days to raise awareness and money for cancer research. His dream to run across Canada was cut short after his cancer spread to his lungs and he died aged 22. Terry continues to inspire people in Canada and beyond to raise money for cancer research, and in the UK the Terry Fox Association proudly supports The Institute of Cancer Research. Brian Whitman is a Canadian currently serving with NATO at its Allied Maritime Command at the Northwood base in north-west London.