The Wright Society Annual Medicine Lecture

On Monday, Caterham school had the pleasure of welcoming Professor Nicholas van As, a clinical oncologist and Medical Director at the Royal Marsden Hospital, who delivered this year’s highly anticipated Annual Medicine Lecture. Professor van As’ talk provided an exploration into prostate cancer research, offering insights into innovations in radiotherapy and the role of cutting-edge technology in treatment. It was attended by a large audience, in a packed Humphrey’s Hall, all interested in learning about the latest advancements in cancer care – from students and aspiring medics to parents and staff.

Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the UK and affects thousands of men each year. Professor van As shared insights from his work in clinical trials, focusing on the development of a novel radiotherapy technique called Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT), which uses a Cyberknife machine to treat prostate cancer. He compared this treatment option with a more familiar surgical procedure which involves the use of the Da Vinci robotic system.

Professor Van As highlighted that, although the journey to implementing Cyberknife technology was not without its challenges, the eventual acceptance of this treatment has marked a significant breakthrough in oncology. We are incredibly thankful to Professor van As for his brilliant talk, as well as to Mr Quinton and Ms Darcy Brown who organised this event.

Written by Maya P.