Laura Smit

Since September 2014 I have been working at the Netherlands Cancer Institute as a pathologist. Although a patient is not likely to meet a pathologist in the hospital, we are certainly busy with the patients in the background.

A pathologist looks at whether cancer cells are present in a biopsy or surgical preparation or not. If cancer is present, we look at what type of cancer it is, whether the tumor has been completely removed and whether there are any targets in the DNA of the cancer cells for targeted treatment. We then discuss our findings in a multidisciplinary meeting in order to arrive at the best treatment for the patient.