Personal information
Professor Living with cancer
Irma Verdonck-de Leeuw (1963) graduated as a psychologist, speech pathologist, and linguist. She is professor at the Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery of VU University Medical Center (VUmc), and the Department of Clinical Psychology of VU University in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She holds the chair “Living with Cancer: innovative care programs and e-health” established by the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF) / Alpe d’HuZes Foundation.
The Alpe D'HuZes foundation (www.opgevenisgeenoptie.nl) raises money (in 2011 more than 20 million euros) for cancer research by cycling up and down six times the Alpe d'Huez mountain in France at the first Thursday in June. A team of VU University Medical Center professors, Post doctoral students and PhD students participated in 2010 and the sponsors of our combined teams contributed over 60.000 euros.
Irma Verdonck is coordinating program leader of research program 5 “Quality of life” of Research Institute CCA/V-ICI of VUmc Cancer Center Amsterdam (www.vumc.nl/afdelingen/CCA-V-ICI/Programs2/3683876) and chair of the interinstitutional research program "Quality of life in Cancer Patients" a collaboration between EMGO+ and CCA/V-ICI.
She supervises 3 postdoc researchers and 15 PhD students and is (co-)author of more than 100 peer reviewed papers, chapters, reports and professional publications on quality of life, psycho-oncology, and voice, speech, and swallowing function in cancer patients. More information on the Research Group: www.samenlevenmetkanker.nl
Her research comprises four main topics:
1) Quality of life and psycho-oncology in cancer patients and their families,
2) Supportive care in cancer according to disease management principles,
3) Predictive modelling: quality of life in relation to biomarkers and survival,
4) Voice, speech, swallowing, and oral function.
The main aim is to generate knowledge on quality of life issues and psycho-oncology in cancer patients and their relatives and to assess cost-efficacy of supportive cancer care and survivorship care plans. Translating this knowledge into clinical practice is an important part of her research.
Cohort studies focus on the impact of cancer on quality of life in relation to a broad perspective of possible moderators and mediators such as sociodemography, comorbidity, coping style, lifestyle, and tumour and treatment related aspects.
Several randomised controlled trials are ongoing on cost-effectiveness of psychosocial care, allied health services, and (stepped) care programmes; a special focus is on patient empowerment and information technology (e-health) to improve the efficiency of supportive care.
Social activities and public media
In the Netherlands, over 80.000 patients are diagnosed with cancer every year. Overall survival is approximately 55% and prevalence of patients living with cancer is estimated on 450.000. There is convincing evidence that cancer patients have to deal with various physical and psychological side effects of cancer and cancer treatment negatively affecting health related quality of life, interfering with return to work, and leading to a higher medical care consumption. Therefore, it is important to monitor quality of life in a structured manner in clinical practice and to provide adequate supportive care in an early stage. Supportive care in cancer is the prevention and management of adverse effects of cancer and its treatment. Government policy statements, various cancer specific guidelines, and "grassroots" initiatives as the Alpe d'HuZes in the Netherlands and the Lance Armstrong Foundation in the United States, reflect broad scientific and social support for a structured, integrated approach to supportive care in cancer patients.
Irma Verdonck is member of the advisory board of the patient panel Living with Cancer (NIVEL). She is board member of the Dutch Breast Cancer Society (Borstkanker Vereniging Nederland), and member of the Advisory Board of Olijf (patient society of patients with cancer of the female reproductive organs) and Klankbord (head and neck cancer patient society). She is also member of the recommending committee of www.kikkeropfleurdoos.nl, an initiative to support cancer patients at time of diagnosis and during treatment.
Presentations and interviews in the public media include:
• Viore, een huis om te ont-moeten. Opening Viore, inloophuis voor patienten met kanker en hun naasten. Hilversum, 29 februari 2012.
• Interview Daphne Bunskoek met Irma Verdonck over leven met kanker. TV-uitzending Gesprek op 2. 30 oktober 2011. http://www.uitzendinggemist.nl/afleveringen/1114783
• 5 vragen over het nieuwe OncoKompas. Interview tijdschrift Pink Ribbon, oktober 2011, pagina 10.
• Erkenning van en aandacht voor leven met kanker. Tijdschrift Medische Oncologie 2011,14,5:36-38.
• Tijdgeesten - In gesprek met Irma Verdonck. Wereld Omroep, 29 mei 2011. www.rnw.nl/nederlands/radioshow/gesprek-met-irma-verdonck
• Cancer Center Amsterdam. TV uitzending RTL4 Koffietijd, 15 februari 2011.
• Oba Live. TV uitzending IKON, 18 oktober 2010.
• Kanker overleefd, maar doodmoe. VU magazine 2010#3. vu.onlinetouch.nl/18
• Borstkankermaand. Radio uitzending BNR Gezond, 11 oktober 2010.
• Het gesprek van de dag. Radio uitzending Radio West, 6 september 2010..
• De terreur van het positief denken. TV uitzending EenVandaag, 3 augustus 2010.
www.eenvandaag.nl/gezondheid/36215/de_terreur_van_het_positief_denken
• Fictieve scheiding tussen lichaam en geest. Interview Tijdschrift Synaps, juni 2010.