Members of our Involvement Network joined the VOICE course, organised by Independent Cancer Patients’ Voice and held at Barts Cancer Institute.
They were joined by Anne-Sophie, an Involvement Manager at Cancer Research UK, for a week that brought together people affected by cancer to learn more about cancer science and research.
Mornings were spent learning about cancer biology and treatment, from how cells work and why changes in our genes can lead to cancer, to how scans and different approaches to treatment work.
The course also explored why cancer is so complex. Cancer isn’t just one disease, and different cancers can develop and respond to treatment in different ways.
In the afternoons, participants headed into the laboratory to put their learning into practice, supported by researchers and students. They carried out experiments exploring genetic changes linked with cancer and viewed cancer cells under microscopes.
For Graeme, a member of our Involvement Network, combining the science with hands-on experience was one of the real benefits of the course. He also came away with knowledge he could apply to his involvement and advocacy work.
The week also gave participants a rare opportunity to see some of the work that happens behind the scenes in cancer research.
For Anne-Sophie, one of the most memorable moments was observing a pathology examination and seeing the care and respect shown when handling and diagnosing a patient’s tissue. Graeme was similarly struck by the “dignity and empathy” shown by the professionals carrying out the work.
The group also visited a facility where samples are kept frozen for future research and saw some of the specialist microscopes scientists use to study cancer.
Together, these experiences offered a glimpse not only into the science of cancer research, but the people, care and expertise behind it.
Learning from other people affected by cancer was also an important part of the week.
Harry left with a better understanding of cancer and greater confidence talking about it with other people. One of his biggest takeaways was hearing other attendees share their experiences of cancer.
For Elizabeth, the course opened her eyes to the different ways people affected by cancer can help influence research. She described seeing “a whole world of influencing” and came away feeling that researchers genuinely wanted to work alongside people affected by cancer.
It was something Anne-Sophie also took from the week. Being surrounded by researchers and people with lived experience reinforced for her how important it is that researchers work hand-in-hand with people affected by cancer, so that research reflects what matters to them.
Find out more about the VOICE course and how it helps people affected by cancer understand cancer science and research.
Learn more about the VOICE course
This is just one example of how involvement helps make Cancer Research UK’s work more inclusive, relevant and impactful. If you’d like to get involved, you can:
Look out for future opportunities on our current involvement opportunities page.
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Whether you’ve been involved before or are thinking about taking that first step, we’d love to welcome you.
