This is Amsterdam UMC- Cancer Center Amsterdam

Most people associate Cancer Center Amsterdam with the red-and-blue “box” along the A10, a building that for many years was a familiar landmark at the edge of the city. That building is no longer in use. Researchers have moved to the brand-new Research & Diagnostics Centre Adore. But Cancer Center Amsterdam was never just a building. It is a community of people, knowledge, and care, united every day by one shared goal: improving care for people with cancer.

Cancer Center Amsterdam is the oncology expertise centre of Amsterdam UMC. Here, care, research, and education are inseparably connected under one roof, with a strong regional collaboration. On one side is the research institute, where dedicated researchers work daily to discover new treatment options. On the other are the clinical departments and outpatient clinics, where healthcare professionals collaborate around the person behind the disease. Insights from research are translated into patient care as quickly and carefully as possible, leading to treatments that are increasingly effective, more targeted, and often less demanding for patients.

For patients, this means access to the latest knowledge and innovative therapies. Each patient is supported by a team of experts who look not only at the disease, but at the person as a whole. The question is not just what is medically possible, but what best fits the patient and their life.

For staff, too, this is a special place to work. It is an environment where care and research naturally come together, where collaboration is second nature, and where there is room to learn, develop, and grow.

Cancer Center Amsterdam may soon no longer be defined by a single building along the A10. But it lives on every day in the people who work here, and in the care they make possible together.

Photography portraits: Rafael Smit

Read this magazine in Dutch

Meet the people behind Amsterdam UMC - Cancer Center Amsterdam:

“Oncology patients find themselves on a roller coaster they never chose to ride”

Desiree Vreken-Weij - ENT outpatient nurse

Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work, and admire—the famous song by Dutch singer Ramses Shaffy perfectly captures what working in oncology care means to Desiree, an ENT outpatient nurse. “Those are exactly the things you encounter here,” she says. “And as a nurse, you play a role in all of them.”

Desiree has worked in healthcare for forty years. Given her long career, you might expect her choice for healthcare to have been a conscious one - but it wasn’t. “I went along to an open day with a friend, without any clear plan. And suddenly, it just felt right.” What started as a spontaneous decision grew into a profession she has practiced with conviction for decades.

She began with in-service nurse training, back when it was still offered at the VU hospital. Early on, she came into contact with oncology care—first at the bedside and, since 2000, as an outpatient nurse at the ENT clinic, a place she has stayed and knows inside out.

“Oncology patients find themselves on a roller coaster they never chose to ride,” she says. “And at the start, they often only understand half of what is being said.” That is where she sees her role: helping patients keep an overview and bringing order to a period that is confusing and intense for many.

Over forty years, she has seen a great deal change. Treatments have become less invasive, techniques more refined, and attention to quality of life has grown. “It’s not just about treatment anymore, but also about how someone can continue living with quality of life.”

What she sometimes misses is time. Time to walk along with the doctor, to step into the waiting area together, to have a short, unhurried conversation with a patient. “Personal contact is sometimes under pressure,” she says. “And that can be difficult, because that’s often where a lot of value lies.”

Desiree sees many advantages in working at an academic hospital. The expertise is readily available, and collaboration between specialties is easy. “Where regional hospitals stop, we continue,” she says. For patients with complex problems, this means diagnostics, consultation, and treatment all come together in one place. She notices that some patients are initially intimidated by the size of the hospital, but that feeling fades once they find their way.

Desiree is the longest-serving nurse at the ENT clinic—a “mother hen,” as she jokingly calls herself—and a go-to person for colleagues. Still, she is careful not to take everything on herself. “The new generation needs to grow too. That won’t happen if you solve everything for them.”

Not every conversation at the outpatient clinic ends with hope for the patient. Sometimes there are no treatment options left. In those moments, she tries to stay practical. “Then I say: don’t put things off. Do what matters to you, while you still can.”

At the end of Shaffy’s song comes the line not without us. To Desiree, that sums up the essence of her work perfectly: “Patients can’t do this without us as caregivers; they don’t have to face it alone. I hope I can be a source of support for them during a difficult time.”

“In a disease where certainty is rare, even a small sense of reassurance is of great value”

Myron Best – Neurosurgery resident and physician-researcher

Anyone who works with Myron quickly notices one thing: he sees details others sometimes miss. In the lab, he can spend minutes studying a dataset, searching for a single abnormal pattern. In the operating room, the same focus applies. “Margins in the brain are very small,” he says. “You have to work with extreme precision.” That eye for detail ultimately shaped his career.

Myron is a neurosurgery resident and physician-researcher specializing in brain cancer. His work takes place in two settings that may seem worlds apart at first glance: the hospital and the laboratory. For Myron, however, the two are inseparably linked.

He was drawn to the technical and creative aspects of research. This led to a research internship at the Brain Tumor Center (part of Amsterdam UMC – Cancer Center Amsterdam), and eventually to combining his medical training with a PhD trajectory—making him the first MD-PhD candidate in Amsterdam.

Combining research with clinical work requires constant switching between different levels. In the clinic, he cares for patients facing life-altering diagnoses, such as primary brain tumors or brain metastases. Prognoses are often poor, and treatments can be intense. “People are looking for information, for clarity and something to hold on to.”

That is exactly where his work in the lab comes in. By analyzing genetic profiles in blood platelets, he hopes to better predict whether a tumor has truly returned or whether imaging shows a treatment-related effect. “If you can give people a bit more clarity about what they’re seeing on a scan and what it actually means,” he says, “you give them some peace of mind, even if it’s only a little. In a disease where certainty is rare, that small sense of reassurance can be incredibly valuable.”

Myron stresses how important context is in research. “Every data point represents a patient, a family, a story. Because I know both worlds, I can always keep that perspective in mind.” He also highlights the vital role of patient organizations. They contribute not only through funding, but above all by fostering connection. Public lab days, where patients and their loved ones can see what happens with their support, make the work tangible for both researchers and patients.

A brain tumor affects more than just the body; it also influences thinking, behavior, and emotions. “That’s why it’s so valuable that neurological and oncological research come together within Amsterdam UMC at Adore, and within the Patient Research Group Neuro-oncology, where neurologists, neurosurgeons, oncologists, radiotherapists, pathologists, and researchers work side by side. This leads to a deeper understanding of what a brain tumor does to a person and helps us look beyond the tumor alone.”

After sixteen years of medical training, research, and specialization, Myron knows that not everything can be controlled. Research requires perseverance but also a measure of luck. “Ultimately, I hope to contribute to better prospects for patients with brain tumors. If we can give people more clarity, that in itself is already of great value.”

"Research shows that the treatment is effective. That’s when you know it is all worth it”

Rosita Sadhoe – Radiation therapy technologist

When Rosita talks about her work, she does so without hesitation, and with pride. She has worked at Amsterdam UMC for nearly thirty years, largely within the same department. “I get a great deal of satisfaction from my work,” she says. “And I still enjoy coming to work every day.”

Rosita is a radiation therapy technologist specializing in hyperthermia, an additional treatment used alongside radiotherapy and only offered at a few centers in the Netherlands.

She was born in Suriname, where she worked for many years in radiology. In the early 1990s, she moved to the Netherlands and trained in radiotherapy at the Amsterdam AMC, a field that did not yet exist in Suriname at the time.

In 2013, Rosita returned to Suriname for four years, just as a radiotherapy department was being established there. It was a special period: she worked as an experienced professional and supervised students. “They needed people with experience,” she explains. “To properly build the profession.” After four years, she returned to Amsterdam and was rehired in her former position.

Upon returning to the Netherlands, she chose to specialize in hyperthermia. This treatment is used in combination with radiation therapy, particularly for patients with recurrent cancer. “First, the patient receives radiation, and within an hour we apply hyperthermia,” Rosita explains. “That combination gives cancer cells less chance to recover.”

During treatment, the affected area is carefully heated using electromagnetic waves to about 41 to 43 degrees Celsius. “You’re essentially inducing a localized fever,” she says. “But it has to be done very precisely. Too much heat can cause other problems.”

The work is technically complex and highly specialized. What also makes it special is the close contact with patients. During a hyperthermia session (which lasts about an hour and a half) Rosita remains in the room the entire time. “We stay with the patient the whole time,” she explains. “That way, if someone experiences pain or discomfort, we can adjust immediately.”

Because patients return frequently, a special bond can develop. There are often meaningful conversations, moments where she can offer encouragement. Sometimes, however, a patient is too tired and just wants to sleep. “That’s all fine,” Rosita says. “The patient sets the pace.”

She clearly sees the added value of the scientific research conducted in her field within Cancer Center Amsterdam. New insights are supported by data and studies, leading to better-informed treatment choices. “Research shows that the treatment is effective,” she says. “That’s when you know it’s all worth it.”

Hyperthermia also attracts international interest. Rosita has guided doctors and technicians from abroad, as far away as Korea. “That’s when you realize we’re truly at the forefront of this technique.”

Rosita will continue working for a few more years before retiring. Until then, she remains deeply committed to her work, supported by great colleagues, a close-knit team, and a profession where technology and human connection have come together for nearly three decades.

“Every day you're working on piecing together small parts of a much bigger puzzle”

Rieneke van de Ven-van Balken - Assistant professor and researcher

As an assistant professor and group leader in tumor immunology within the head and neck cancer group, Rieneke works every day with one deeply rooted motivation. “When I was very young, I lost my mother to cancer. That has always been the reason I chose this work.”

That experience still underpins her commitment. “You hope that, through your work, you can ultimately contribute to better treatments, and that the grief you yourself have known can be spared to others.”

During her studies in biomedical sciences, she discovered her fascination with the immune system. “I knew I wanted to do cancer research, and immunology really captured my interest.” Since 2022, she has been working as an assistant professor. Mentoring young researchers is a key part of her role. “I love passing on my passion: seeing them grow, find their own path, and develop new insights.”

In her current research, Rieneke and her team delve deep into the biology of head and neck cancer. They study how tumor cells and immune cells interact, seeking to understand why some patients respond well to immunotherapy while others do not. Her group also explores how tumors suppress the immune system and how that suppression might be overcome. “We are now launching a clinical trial in which immunotherapy is administered directly into the patient’s tumor. We hope this approach will be more effective and cause fewer side effects.”

Rieneke has spent almost her entire career at Amsterdam UMC – Cancer Center Amsterdam, and she is clear about its added value. “Cancer Center Amsterdam creates a real sense of ‘we’. You have your own research group, but there’s an additional layer where everyone is working toward the same goal.”

She also values the opportunities given to early-career researchers. “The seed funding available to young investigators is incredibly important. It allows you to test ideas that aren’t yet ready for major grant schemes. I’ve benefited from that many times in my career.”

For Rieneke, the most rewarding moments in research are when laboratory findings truly begin to matter for patients. One example is a discovery from her PhD work that eventually led to a vaccine now being tested. “It’s very special to see that something you helped bring into being is now helping patients. That’s when you know why you do this work.”

And so, each day, she remains driven by curiosity, dedication to her field, and something even deeper. “You work every day on piecing together small parts of a much bigger puzzle. And you hope that those pieces lead to better care. That’s what motivates me.”

“Research allows me to truly make a difference in the lives of patients”

Loes Noteboom - Nurse researcher

Loes began her career as a nurse and is now both a nurse practitioner and an active researcher. That combination suits her well. “From a very young age, I knew I wanted to work in healthcare. Working with people and being able to make a difference in someone's life; that’s just who I am.”

For many years, she worked on the ward and later in the outpatient clinic treating patients with oesophageal and gastric cancer. Every day she saw how demanding recovery can be. After surgery, many patients experience a wide range of symptoms. “And honestly, we didn’t really know what to do with them. Everyone approached it differently—medication, additional tests, interventions. There was no consistent approach.” That hands-on experience became the reason she decided to pursue research.

Together with surgeons and colleagues, Loes developed a treatment protocol to better manage these symptoms. “We sat down with different specialists and asked ourselves: what do we actually know? What are we doing now? And what really works?” This led to a multidisciplinary meeting that now takes place every two months. “We discuss complex cases and evaluate the impact of our protocol. It has already given us so much insight.”

Loes is currently working on several studies at the same time. One of them focuses on X-ray recordings in which patients drink a liquid, allowing clinicians to see how the ‘gastric tube’ functions after oesophageal surgery. “We want to know whether we can identify early on which patients will develop persistent symptoms. Right now, we often say: just wait, it will pass. But sometimes it doesn’t.”

She is also starting a study in which she interviews patients and their loved ones about quality of life after surgery. “The impact isn’t just physical. It affects daily life, relationships, independence. We want to understand that story.”

Although she has only been actively involved in research for just a few years, to Loes it feels as if it has always been part of her. “During my training as a nurse practitioner, I really caught the research bug for the first time. Scientific research allows you to give so much back to your own clinical practice.”

Still, it didn’t come naturally at first. “I always thought research was for surgeons and physicians. That I couldn’t do it. Until someone said: of course you can! Let’s just do it.” That encouragement was crucial. “Sometimes you need someone to give you that push.”

Amsterdam UMC – Cancer Center Amsterdam plays an important role in this. “There are working groups and meetings where you can exchange ideas with researchers and fellow specialists. That’s incredibly valuable. Surgeons look at things differently than nurses do. It’s precisely by tackling patient problems together that you move forward.”

Loes hopes more nurse practitioners will dare to take that step. “It doesn’t have to be a high barrier. Through research, you can make such a difference for patients. Take that opportunity and see what’s possible through Cancer Center Amsterdam.”

“The ending is written, but the story isn’t over yet”

Dick van Nieuwenhuizen on living with cancer

It was during the COVID period that Dick van Nieuwenhuizen (74), from Kortenhoef, flew to Las Vegas with his nephew and his nephew’s son. A nearly empty plane, a suitcase full of medication, and a nine-hour time difference; not exactly ideal circumstances for someone who has been living with cancer for years. And yet he went. “I absolutely don’t have and don’t want a bucket list,” he says. “But this just seemed special. Three generations together. And if it’s possible, then why not?”

That attitude sums him up. The disease is there. But he refuses to let it define his life entirely.

It started in 2014 with difficulty swallowing. He blamed stress: his sister-in-law had recently passed away, and he had a demanding job. Until a doctor at his local hospital insisted on further tests. Within fifteen minutes, it was clear: a malignant tumor in his esophagus. “When someone says, ‘You’d better hold on to each other,’ you know enough.”

At first, there was hope. There appeared to be no metastases, and surgery was discussed. But after additional tests at the GIOCA outpatient clinic of Amsterdam UMC – Cancer Center Amsterdam, it turned out the cancer had spread and was incurable. “It felt as if the ground gave way beneath my feet. I said goodbye to people, while I’m still here today. That may be the strangest experience of my life.”

Together with Prof. Dr. Hanneke van Laarhoven and her team, a treatment plan was drawn up. “Biopsies showed that, in addition to chemotherapy, I was eligible for targeted therapy.”

That combination proved to be a turning point. Thanks to more than 200 treatment cycles combined with oral chemotherapy, the disease has been kept under control for years now. The tumors are still there, but they are 'asleep'. “They’re not gone, and they never will be. You just don’t know when they might wake up. The ending to my life is written, but the story isn’t over yet and I still have quality of life.”

What has helped him most over the years is the way he is treated in the hospital—not as a number, but as a person. Amsterdam UMC is large. But once he steps onto the Medical Oncology ward, it never feels impersonal. Over time, he has learned his way around the people, the routines; and they know him too.

From the very beginning, he noticed there was room for discussion and nuance. Treatments are never imposed without conversation; again and again, the team looks at what makes sense and what fits his situation. “It’s always: what shall we do? Do we continue, pause for a bit, adjust something? That conversation keeps coming back. It gives me confidence and a sense of control.”

That trust isn’t just about major decisions, but also about the small things: doctors who take the time, nurses who address him by his first name, simple questions that show he has a say.

Dick’s involvement goes beyond his own treatment. He has participated in several scientific studies, including one for the Biobank, on neuropathy, art and music in cancer care, and changes in smell and taste during chemotherapy. “I’m happy to take part. It helps me, and it helps others. That’s my way of contributing.”

Just as important to him is that everything comes together at Amsterdam UMC; not only his cancer care at Cancer Center Amsterdam, but all the care around it. “All the knowledge and expertise are here under one roof. If something happens, this is where I go. Always.”

And a lot happened over the past few years: a broken shoulder, a TIA, a pulmonary embolism, and an adrenal crisis related to Addison’s disease, which he has had since childhood. One phone call to the on-call internist, and he is admitted directly to the emergency department. The hospital knows him, his records are complete, and communication lines are short. The fact that Amsterdam UMC is a bit farther from his home doesn’t bother him. “For me, everything comes down to trust. This really is my hospital.”

Making a difference together

Cancer affects everyone: one in two people will face it directly or indirectly. Together with a dedicated team of professionals and committed donors, the Cancer Center Amsterdam Foundation works tirelessly to make cancer research at Cancer Center Amsterdam possible. Every contribution, large or small, makes a real difference.

Thanks to the support of donors, researchers and healthcare professionals can work side by side on studies that are directly relevant to patients. New insights from the laboratory reach the clinic more quickly, leading to more treatment options, more personalized care, and better prospects for patients.

This is only possible through collaboration. From laboratory technicians to nurses, from researchers to donor; everyone plays a role in the fight against cancer. Together, we make the difference. And together, we continue to work toward a future in which cancer is curable.