Victoria Forster, PhD

Victoria Forster is a postdoctoral research scientist and freelance science writer. Her research interests include; DNA repair deficiencies, pediatric cancers, stem cell and organoid models for cancer development and cancer treatment-related side effects. She is also a 25-year survivor of childhood leukemia and an advocate for childhood cancer awareness. She has bylines in several outlets including The Times, The Guardian, Forbes, and Cancer Therapy Advisor.

All articles by Victoria Forster, PhD

General Oncology

State of Cancer Research: Impact of COVID-19, Brexit, War, and Other Global Events

By

Victoria Forster, PhD

May 19, 2023

In the last few years, cancer research has been hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit, the war in Ukraine, and tensions between world superpowers.

CLL cells

ASH 2022 CLL In-depth

ASH 2022: New Findings in CLL

By

Victoria Forster, PhD

December 28, 2022

Research in patients with CLL showed that zanubrutinib can outperform ibrutinib, a triplet is effective for high-risk CLL, cell death may predict the depth of response, and a CAR T-cell therapy is likely not an option for CLL patients.

Vials of drug

General Oncology

COVID-19 Is Still Causing Drug Shortages That Impact Cancer Care

By

Victoria Forster, PhD

August 19, 2022

Experts discuss current and potential future shortages affecting the oncology field as well as strategies for preventing and managing shortages.

Hand crushing mask

General Oncology

Lack of Mask Mandates Leaves Cancer Patients Feeling Unprotected

By

Victoria Forster, PhD

July 6, 2022

Cancer patients have voiced concerns about a lack of masking at cancer centers and have reported being harassed for wearing masks in public.

Older female patient in hospital bed.

General Oncology

Risk of Cancer-Specific Death May Remain Elevated for 30 Years

By

Victoria Forster, PhD

May 6, 2022

Patients with certain cancers have an increased risk of cancer-specific mortality that persists for 30 to 35 years after diagnosis.

General Oncology

Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine May Be More Effective for Cancer Patients

By

Victoria Forster, PhD

April 29, 2022

Growing evidence suggests that patients with cancer have better responses to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine than to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

General Medicine

Gender Pay Gap Affects Most Medical Specialties, Persists Over Time

By

Victoria Forster, PhD

April 22, 2022

Women in academic medicine typically have lower starting salaries than men, and this disparity remains after 10 years on the job.

Vials of drug

General Oncology

Many Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Combination Therapies Show No Evidence of Drug Synergy

By

Victoria Forster, PhD

February 11, 2022

The efficacy of many combination therapies may be due to independent drug action, not synergistic or additive effects.

COVID-19 patients in hospital

COVID-19 and Lung Cancer: What We Know and Don’t Know

By

Victoria Forster, PhD

January 7, 2022

Researchers have summarized what is known about COVID-19 in the context of lung cancer and highlighted areas where more research is needed.

Doctor showing tablet to male patient.

Prostate Cancer

Docs Disagree With Update to NCCN Guidelines for Prostate Cancer

By

Victoria Forster, PhD

October 29, 2021

An update to active surveillance recommendations has some physicians concerned.

Next post in Prostate Cancer

Study Zeros in on Why Men Abandon Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance