Peter’s blogs written in English
‘Give people rules and they stop thinking for themselves’. I actually believe this to be true. We’re always talking about our own responsibility and free will and do not realise that rules do nothing else than impose limits on our own responsibility and free will. Or worse than that; we Lees meer…
The other day I attended a gathering of the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), where I talked to some 75 doctors, scientists, pharmaceuticals staff, government officials and also, luckily, naturally, patients, about the set-up of new types of trials. And I thought, “What can I Lees meer…
Last week I met with two passionate research physicians working on esophageal, stomach and pancreatic cancer. Patients suffering from these forms of cancer nearly all die, because hardly any research is being done. We don´t know anything about these patients. Many of them are treated palliatively only. As a basis Lees meer…
‘The tissue is not the issue’ I once heard an American scientist say a couple of years ago. What he meant was, rather than focusing solely on the tissue or organ the cancer is affecting, it is more important to stop the division of cells that is causing its spread: Lees meer…
Recently, I attended a very interesting meeting with health care managers. Its theme was ‘Innovation in quality and stabilising costs’. How do you do you go about this? I will focus on costs first. How do you keep them under control? A lively discussion ensued. Nevertheless, there was a general Lees meer…
On Wednesday 30 May 2007 I was admitted to intensive care with double pneumonia. I had no resistance, had picked up an infection and it was touch and go whether I would pull through. One of the most intimate and emotional moments I experienced while I was there occurred on Lees meer…
“Save my tumour – it might save my life.” I heard that while talking to George Coukos in Lausanne. The discussion was about using tissue for the research into cancer. Samples of human tissue, such as skin, cells, blood and saliva, are needed for research. George is a great advocate Lees meer…
‘Patient Advocacy’: what does that actually mean? That’s something I hear more and more often. Patient Advocacy means patients, their friends, families and loved ones. Patient Advocacy means everything that matters in ensuring patients and their loved ones get the best possible cancer care and the best possible access to Lees meer…
Inspire2Live, an international organization that supports efforts to get cancer under control and the initiator of large-scale charity events like Alpe d’HuZes, organized a conference in Amsterdam on January 17 and 18, 2013 on the prevention of cancer. The main conclusion: we know very well what to do to reduce Lees meer…
Working for a better life for people living with cancer and for their loved ones is the mainstay of our mission. With every new step we take, we first ask ourselves ‘What’s the benefit for the patient?’ Inspire2Live is the umbrella organization that coordinates a range of programmes and Lees meer…