The story of Dennis
Dennis de Roo was in his early 40s when he heard four years ago that he had asbestos cancer and was therefore terminally ill. ‘Just under 75 per cent of people with my diagnosis last a year and just under 5 per cent make it to 10 years. That's my big goal.’
‘Prof Joachim Aerts treated me after there were no more treatment options in my own hospital. And I am still here. That's why I want to do everything I can to support the pioneering research of Aerts and his team.’
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma, also known as asbestos cancer, is a rare but aggressive form of cancer that affects the pleura or peritoneum. About 500 people in the Netherlands are diagnosed with this every year. The average survival time after diagnosis is only 12 to 18 months, as the disease is often detected at a late stage.
Current treatments, such as chemotherapy, offer limited results. However, innovative therapies such as immunotherapy with dendritic cells offer new hope. Recent studies have shown promising results, but more research is urgently needed to improve patients' survival and quality of life.
More interviews with Dennis
