2013 - Daniela Luvero, University College London Hospital (UCLH)

The scholarship holder's final report Daniela Luvero

The experience spent from 1 May 2013 to 31 December 2013 at the Oncology Unit of the University College London Hospital (UCLH) in London, under the supervision of prof. J. Ledermann and his team, has enriched me not only professionally but above all humanly.

It was certainly a unique opportunity to deepen my technical skills and experience in the treatment and management of patients with gynecological malignancies.

I got to know a different hospital environment abroad, I was in direct contact with patients and I understood that the way patients manage suffering and relate to it is the same all over the world: the cancer patient suffers , is desperate, but he uses this desperation as fuel to go forward and cling to any hope. The hope in the doctors to heal him, but above all to give him a decent quality of life, especially in the terminal stages. The greatest concern for patients is not death, but the fear of suffering, of feeling pain in their last days. It is precisely for this reason that I learned how important it is to listen to them, understand their concerns, and above all understand how indispensable pain therapy is to "accompany" them in the best possible way along this path.

In the clinical setting, I was fully integrated into the UCLH gynecology oncology team, performing regular two shifts a week on call on the ward and one day a week at the Outpatient Oncology Centre, where I examined and prescribed chemotherapy for patients. The additional two days were devoted to research and writing scientific papers. The professor. Ledermann in London and prof. Angioli in Rome have always supported and helped me throughout my journey. I also continued to work for my department in Italy, trying to propose an exchange of articles and scientific knowledge.

Specifically, the objectives achieved after my internship were:

• Active participation as sub-investigator in international protocols on gynecological tumors and in particular on ovarian cancer (TRINOVA 2, ICON 8, mEOC, PETROC, 6-mp, SOLO 2, PANCOMAB)
• Collaboration in the drafting of scientific articles (drafting of the GCIG guidelines for mucinous ovarian cancer, review of the literature on platinum-resistant disease, case reports) which still continues with the drafting of other works in collaboration with the Gynecology Unit of the Campus University Bio-Doctor of Rome.
• Application of international guidelines in the management of chemotherapy drugs and the possible complications deriving from the infusion achieved thanks to the management of patients in the outpatient clinic and in the oncology day-hospital
• Outpatient screening and early diagnosis of major gynecological cancers
• Achievement of BLS in London
• Membership of the Medical Association of England (GMC)
• Achievement of the GCP course certificate in order to actively participate in the experimental protocols

These objectives were achieved by attending the day hospital, the gynecological oncology department, through database consultation, but above all with direct contact with oncological patients and with a team of professionals at an international level.

I thank the prof. Angioli and the Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome for giving me this opportunity to grow abroad, I also thank the Alumni Association for supporting me and believing in me, and I thank prof. Ledermann and the London team for accepting me and integrating me into that new reality.