On Monday, 16 January 2026, Prof. Dr. Willemien Menke - van Houven van Oordt delivered her inaugural lecture at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, marking her appointment as Professor of Oncology with a focus on Molecular Imaging.
In her lecture “View of the Patient”, Menke - van Houven van Oordt addressed a key aspect of modern cancer care: the importance of seeing the patient as a whole person. She emphasized that while cancer is often treatable, it remains a life-threatening disease. Understanding the patient's wishes, fears, and hopes is crucial. She argued that this patient-centered approach, supported by advanced diagnostic tools like molecular imaging, leads to more personalized and well-informed treatment decisions.
A central theme of her research is the application of molecular imaging in breast cancer, particularly to improve disease staging and monitor treatment responses. Menke - van Houven van Oordt discussed the use of FDG PET and 18F-labeled fluoroestradiol (FES) PET to better assess hormone-sensitive, slow-growing breast cancers, where traditional methods often fall short.
She also highlighted the importance of molecular imaging in metastatic breast cancer, where curative treatment is no longer possible, and its role in drug development, which provides insights into drug distribution and receptor binding. Her ongoing research aims to refine imaging techniques to guide individualized treatment strategies for both early and advanced breast cancer.
In conclusion, Menke - van Houven van Oordt called for a broader societal responsibility to truly "see the other," extending this idea to the protection of societies' vulnerabilities. She referenced the ongoing war in Ukraine as an example of the need to protect freedom and human dignity.
Her lecture was a powerful reminder of the importance of both groundbreaking technology and compassionate, patient-centered care in the fight against cancer.