Laura Smit

I have been working at the Netherlands Cancer Institute as a pathologist since 2014. Although patients may not easily encounter pathologists at the hospital, we contribute a lot to patient care from behind the screens. 

Pathologists analyze whether cancer cells are present in tissue samples. If there are cancer cells, we try to find out the type of cancer, whether the tumor has been removed in its entirety, and whether the DNA found in the cancer cells can tell us anything about the best treatment option. We discuss our findings during a multidisciplinary team meeting, where we work towards the optimal treatment for every single patient.