Oxford students attend talk about cancer and health behind the headlines

On Friday evening, a group of students joined a panel of cancer and media experts to explore the science behind the various stories which are constantly in the news regarding aspects of our health, lifestyle and this disease.

Second year A-Level Student, Anastasia Lankina, who would like to pursue scientific research and medicine at university, was one of the students who went along. Here she tells us how the event has inspired her:

As I am currently considering Radiation Oncology as a future career field, I was extremely interested in attending last Friday’s public lecture about the Representation of Cancer in Media. The lecture was structured interactively – first the audience was asked to complete a  survey about certain cancer myths, which the panel members then discussed, explaining the science behind these stories. There were not only doctors but also scientists and even a journalist and a health blogger on the panel – their different theories complimented as well as opposed each other which gave the audience a complete review of the discussed problem.

After the talk, I got a chance to ask Dr. David Grimes, a medical physicist from the University of Oxford, about the area of my particular interest which is the efficiency of different types of radiotherapy. It is amazing how opportunities to talk to such unique people open up to you once you’re using your time in Oxford to the fullest!