Post by Ying Thong Low

Last week, I had the pleasure of presenting my work at the 19th International PhD Student Cancer Conference (IPSCC), hosted by The Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam! I'm very grateful to have been selected to give a talk for the second consecutive year, and honoured to have received the 2nd Best Oral Presentation Prize. Thank you to the organizing committee for putting together such a warm and friendly conference. I really appreciate how much our work as PhD students was valued and encouraged throughout the conference. For me, the most special part of IPSCC is the sense of community. It was lovely to see familiar faces, make new friends, and learn about their exciting research across different fields. Talking to others going through similar highs, doubts and challenges reminded me why I started my PhD, and that I am not alone in this journey. Lastly, a special mention to the patient advocate session. Hearing directly from people affected by cancer was a powerful reminder of why our research matters, and how the work we do may one day contribute to something meaningful for patients.