My UCL iBSc in Oncology: Mid-year Reflection

— Tracey Xie

Hi everyone, my name is Tracey. I’m a third-year medical student at UCL, currently

halfway through my intercalated iBSc in Oncology. When people ask me why I chose

oncology, my answer is that I’ve seen the significant impact of cancer on patients and

their families. I wanted to learn more about how cancer originates, how treatments

are developed, and where the field is heading with more targeted therapies. I believe

this knowledge will not only help guide my own career but could also contribute to

future research that makes a real difference to patient lives.

Medical student observing patient care during elective

Why I chose to intercalate in Oncology?

My interest in oncology started during a visit to Endomag, a company specialising in

breast cancer tumour localisation systems. I saw how engineering and medicine can

work together to improve patient outcomes. Later, during my Student Selected

Component at the Crick Institute where I researched mitophagy, I became fascinated

by how cellular mechanisms like mitochondrial turnover are involved in cancer

progression and treatment resistance. 

I felt that exploring the history and biology of cancer in depth would help me

understand how new therapies are developed for different patient subtypes. This 

research perspective is important to me, because it bridges lab science with clinical

application, and ultimately aims to improve patient quality of life and reduce

unnecessary side effects

What the course involves?

Term 1 Modules: 

•  Cancer Medicine in Society

•  Cancer Biology and Therapeutics 

•  Clinical Cancer: From Diagnosis to Treatment 

•  Cancer Biomedicine Research Project Preparation

Term 2 Modules: 

•  Precision Cancer Medicine

•  Cancer Clinical Trials

•  Paediatric and Young Adult Cancer (optional, alongside other choices like

stem cells, nutrition in cancer, and nanotechnology) 

•  Research Project

Assessments are a mix of coursework and exams, including group presentations,

written work, and final exams

A look at the modules so far

Cancer, Medicine and Society 

This module walked us through the history of oncology, from the accidental

discovery of chemotherapy agents like mustard gas during the World Wars, to the

development of drugs like cisplatin. We watched The Emperor of All Maladies, which

showed the shift from general treatments towards more precision-based medicine.

For this module, I also researched and presented a poster on how dance movement

therapy, including ballet and social ballroom, can support breast cancer survivors

with body confidence, fatigue and social reconnection. It was a good reminder that

healing isn’t just about medication, but also about wellbeing and identity. 

Cancer Biology and Therapeutics 

Here we looked at the molecular foundations of cancer. We covered oncogenes,

tumour suppressors, DNA repair, and how metastasis happens. I presented

on BRCA2, tracing its discovery and its role in DNA repair with RAD51. Learning this

helped me understand why treatments like PARP inhibitors are used for BRCA-

mutant cancers, and how concepts like synthetic lethality work in practice. 

Clinical Cancer: From Diagnosis to Treatment 

This module applied the science to real clinical decisions. I focused on colorectal

cancer, reviewing trials such as FIRE-3 and SWOG 80405 to see how factors like

tumour location and molecular markers guide therapy. It was interesting to learn

how a left-sided versus right-sided tumour can determine whether a patient gets an

EGFR inhibitor or bevacizumab. This really showed how personalised oncology works

in practice.

What my week looks like?

My weekly schedule is varied but structured: 

•  Monday: 9–11am Clinical Cancer | 12–1pm Cancer Medicine in Society tutorial

| 2–4pm (every other week) patient case presentation 

•  Tuesday: 9am–12pm Cancer Medicine in Society

•  Wednesday: 10am–12pm Cancer Biomedicine Research Project 

•  Thursday: 11:30am–1:30pm Cancer Biology and Therapeutics 

•  Friday: 2–4pm Clinical Cancer

It’s a good balance of taught sessions and time for independent research and

preparation.

What I’ve gained so far ?

This iBSc has given me a much clearer understanding of how cancer research

translates into treatment. I’ve improved at reading papers, designing presentations,

and thinking critically about trial data. I’ve also gained insight into newer areas like

CAR-T cells, transcriptomics, and how tumour heterogeneity is studied. Most

importantly, I feel better equipped to think about cancer in a connected way—from

the molecule to the patient. 

Why I’d recommend this iBSc ?

If you’re interested in the molecular basis of cancer, how patients are managed

clinically, and where new treatments are heading, this is a very good iBSc to consider.

It’s challenging but really rewarding, and it helps you see oncology as both a science

and a clinical practice. 

Looking ahead

I’m only halfway through the year, but I’ve already learned a lot about where I might

want to take my career. Whether oncology becomes my specialty or not, this year

has given me a strong foundation in a field that is always evolving. For anyone

thinking about intercalating in oncology, it’s a chance to look deeper into a disease

that touches so many lives, and to learn how we can treat it better in the future.