Are we any closer to 'curing' cancer?

Being physically active has many health benefits, but can it prevent us from getting cancer? In this talk, I will address three important questions: Does physical activity reduce the risk of developing certain cancers? Does the type and amount of physical activity matter? If so, what are the pathways involved? I will end the talk with some practical recommendations for maintaining an active lifestyle.

Hi! My name is Scott and I (once upon a yesteryear) was a haematologist studying for a doctorate in cancer research. As part of my doctorate, I worked as the lead researcher on a phase I and phase II clinical trial. The premise was simple – to devise a way of detecting pancreatic cancer from blood, however the logistics of the project were far from simple! From blood clots and fainting patients to late night rugby and being in charge of 1.5 million pounds, I will talk to you about the highs and lows of my experience of clinical trials.

In April 2018 at the age of 49 l was diagnosed with primary breast cancer. Less than a year later in March 2019 I was told my cancer had spread, it was no longer curable and I would live the rest of my life as a cancer patient.
I have learnt so much about cancer in the last 4 years and feel that I’m living proof that science and research are making a difference to allow people like me to have a good quality of life for longer.

Viruses have co-evolved alongside us and ‘learned’ how to hide within plain sight. Unfortunately, this is a trick that cancers have also picked up. With infection by several viruses known to cause cancer, I will explore the methods viruses and cancers use to avoid detection and destruction. Simply put, they turn the ‘brakes’ on the immune system and remove the stop signals. I will describe a new pathway oncoviruses use to avoid detection by the immune system, translate the findings to the cancer setting, and contemplate how far away we are from truly ‘curing’ cancer.