A CHAPTER IN MY JOURNEY- MY EXPERIENCE AT UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, ADDENBROOKE’S HOSPITAL
The seeds of my passion for oncology were sown in the darkest of times, when I lost my beloved aunt to breast cancer in 2015. Her courageous battle and heartbreaking departure left an indelible mark on my heart, fueling a fire within me to make a difference. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to helping others navigate the distressful journey of sickness most notably cancer, and to hopefully spare others the pain of losing loved ones too soon. This personal tragedy ignited a sense of purpose, driving me to pursue a career in medicine at Makerere University.
This year 2024, Daisy Adiru and I were humbled to represent the third cohort of Cambridge Africa- Makerere University medical students exchange program. We had a six weeks placement in Hematology and Oncology at University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s hospital for our medical electives. This opportunity was made possible through the Cambridge-Africa program, an initiative aimed at supporting African researchers and students, fostering mutually beneficial collaborations and equitable partnerships between Cambridge and Africa. Following a visit by Ms. Corinna Alberg, the programme manager Cambridge Africa and Dr. Maike de la Roche of CRUK CI to Uganda Cancer Institute and interaction with Dr. Jackson Orem, the director of the Uganda Cancer Institute, it was realized that Uganda has few oncologists despite the increasing cancer rates and therefore a need for such a medical elective program to motivate Ugandan medical students with an interest in Oncology into future specialization in the field.
The selection was merit-based, following interviews after I had showed interest in writing to the international office at Makerere University College of Health Sciences. This was followed with an online application to the University of Cambridge, facilitated by electives Coordinator Ms. Cassandra Mura. I then received an email confirming my placement after completing all necessary steps in the application process.
With a heart full of gratitude, I boarded RwandAir, marking the beginning of my adventure. I left Entebbe International Airport at 12:05pm on the 22nd of June 2024 and landed at London Gatwick Airport at 06:40 am on 23rd of June 2024. I took a train to Cambridge Rail station and a bus to Addenbrooke’s hospital. The memories of my first flight, the kindness of strangers, and the beauty of new landscapes will forever be etched in my heart.
The journey was not without its challenges, for obtaining a visa had been a daunting task but thankfully, Ms. Corinna’s kindness and expertise guided me every step of the way.
June 24th was my first day at Addenbrooke's Hospital. I met Ms. Amelia Froggatt, administrative apprentice who was covering for Ms. Cassandra Mura in the Electives Administration Office, and received a warm welcome. Later, I had an occupational health appointment, including blood tests and a chest X-ray for TB clearance, to prepare me for patient contact.
The next day, I received training on the Epic software, which helps hospital departments and staff communicate efficiently and keeps patient records up to date. Afterwards, Dr. Martin Besser introduced me to the hematology team and showed me the schedule of activities in the department.
Left to right: Adiru Daisy, Dr. Martin Besser, Dr. Will Thomas and Philine Taaka
Six weeks in Hematology and Oncology were a life-changing experience. In Hematology, we immersed ourselves in clinics, ward rounds, and cutting-edge treatments like use of stem cell transplants in leukemias, multiple myeloma and red cell exchange that most sickle cell patients benefit from. I also got a chance to interact with a gentleman at the sickle cell patient day whose life was changed by a stem cell transplant from his brother 7 years ago. He had sickle cell disease but he’s currently a carrier of sickle cell. The different ongoing treatment trails for Sickle cell using drugs such as; Voxelotor, Mitapivat and Crizanlizumab at the Cambridge Clinical Research Centre reinforce the promising outlook for effective sickle cell disease management. In Oncology, we explored clinics, ward rounds, radiotherapy unit shadowing where I learnt the precautions taken during patient preparation for radiotherapy, and chemotherapy administration units. Witnessing the latest advancements in cancer diagnosis and patient care which included use of targeted therapies, immunotherapy for some of the cancers and the different ongoing research trials was thrilling – a rare opportunity we didn't have back home.
Daisy and I with some of the participants at the sickle cell patient day
My time in Cambridge was woven with a perfect blend of study and play. Occasionally, I unwound by tapping into the rich tapestry of British culture. Memories of laughter and joy still linger, like the day my colleague and I joined Ms. Corinna and her family on a trip to Southwold Pier, where we reveled in the games and strolled along the beach.
Dr. Maike's warm hospitality shone bright at a barbecue gathering, filling the evening with delightful conversations and good food. Alongside fellow Electives students, I embarked on a serene punting adventure along the River Cam as well as taking in the breathtaking beauty of the Cambridge University Botanic gardens, some of Cambridge's colleges, the Fitzwilliam and Scott Polar Museum.
Left to right: Philine Taaka, Adiru Daisy. Begum, Munachi and Elise on River Cam. Below at the botanical gardens with Daisy Adiru.
The crowning jewel of our social escapades was our trip to London. The stunning architecture, the majestic Buckingham Palace where we had a chance to see the change of guards’ ceremony, London Eye, the historic UK Parliament, London Bridge, and National Theatre – each landmark inscribed an unforgettable memory in my heart.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the entire hematology team at Addenbrooke’s hospital, including consultants, registrars, nurses, patients, and receptionists, for their invaluable support and guidance throughout my placement. The doctors played a significant role in my academic growth, providing exceptional mentorship in the wards, clinics, and various academic activities. Special thanks to Dr. Martin Besser, Dr. Will Thomas, Dr. George Vassilliou, Dr. Faisal Basheer, Dr. Charles Crawley, Dr. Foukaneli Dora for organizing special lectures and Dr. Huiqi Yang for coordinating our oncology rotation, despite challenging circumstances.
From Left to right: Florence, Daisy, Philine and Anjelina at Buckingham palace. Florence and Anjelina were Ugandan participants at the CRUK CI Summer School – another part of the UCI-Cambridge collaboration.
I am also deeply grateful to the Oncology team, including doctors, registrars, and nurses, for their warm welcome and accommodation during our rotation, which included clinics, ward rounds, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy shadowing units. Furthermore, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Cambridge Africa for their generous funding, which covered visa fees, flights, accommodation, health insurance, and stipend, making this placement possible. I hope this cooperation continues to grow and expand, enabling more students to benefit from this enriching experience. I appreciate Ms. Susan Nassaka of Makerere University College of Health Sciences International office, Ms. Corinna Alberg of Cambridge Africa and Ms. Cassandra Mura, the electives administrator at University of Cambridge for their assistance and support in making this placement a success.
With every end marks a new beginning, I am excited to apply the lessons learned from this elective in my career, inspiring positive change in the world of Cancer.
The end of cancer begins with us!
Thank you so much.
By Taaka Philine Makoha.