Maths + Cancer

Maths + Cancer with Dr Vicky Neale

The Maths + Cancer podcast explores the extraordinary and unexpected ways mathematics is being applied to cancer research.

Its host, Dr Vicky Neale, was a mathematician at the University of Oxford. She held the position of Whitehead Lecturer at the Mathematical Institute and Balliol College, as well as being a Supernumerary Fellow at Balliol.

This podcast series was both a personal and professional endeavour for Vicky.

In March 2021, she began receiving treatment for a rare form of cancer, prompting her to discover more about how her colleagues in the mathematical community contribute to cancer research – from prevention, through to diagnosis and treatment.

Throughout the series she talked to a range of experts to find out more about the role of mathematics and statistics in cancer research, as well as to discover more about the people behind the work.

She discussed the relevance of maths to cancer with Professor Philip Maini and explored the importance of the communication of risk with Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter.

She also spoke to Medical Physicist Dr Tom Whyntie about the role of maths in medical imaging and cancer treatment, and saw how numbers might not tell the whole story with Professor Hannah Fry.

In May 2023, with huge sadness and a profound sense of loss, it was announced that Vicky, a much loved colleague, teacher and advocate had died.

Those who knew Vicky, or were inspired by her, have been sharing memories of her on the Mathematical Institute's website.

Listen to the podcast:

Episode 2: Communicating the evidence with Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter

In the second episode of the series, Vicky talked to Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, Chair of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at the University of Cambridge.

A leading statistician, and author, Professor Spiegelhalter discussed his work on the successful Predict tools for breast and prostate cancer, which help patients make informed decisions about their cancer treatment.

Vicky and Professor Spiegelhalter explored the role of statisticians in communicating risk to the public, and how patients can be empowered to engage with clinicians in a meaningful way when weighing up the benefits and risks of treatment.

Here, they also talked about the human side of cancer, and the care that is needed when communicating cancer risks.

Listen to Episode 2:

Listen to the podcast on Spotify.
Download transcript.

• _{Find Professor Spiegelhalter on Twitter}
• _{Learn more about the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication, and the Real Risk project}
• _{Visit the Predict Breast Cancer and Predict Prostate tools}

Episode 4: Numbers don't tell the whole story with Professor Hannah Fry

In the fourth episode of the series, Vicky talked to Professor Hannah Fry – mathematician, science presenter and ‘all-round badass’.

Presenter of the 2022 BBC2 documentary Making Sense of Cancer with Hannah Fry, Professor Fry talked to Vicky about the difficulties of using probabilities in using medical statistics and the importance of asking the right questions when it comes to the risks involved with cancer treatment.

Here, they discussed how their own experiences have shaped their perspectives, and the tough choices that face those making decisions on cancer care and the different treatment options available.

Listen to Episode 4:

Listen to the podcast on Spotify.
Download transcript.

• _{Find Professor Fry on Twitter}
• _{Watch Making Sense of Cancer with Hannah Fry on BBC iPlayer}

Episode 6: The shape of data with Professor Heather Harrington

In the sixth episode of the series, Vicky talked to Professor Heather Harrington from the University of Oxford’s Mathematical Institute.

They explored how techniques from algebra and topology are being used to identify patterns in cancer data, giving a more nuanced understanding than has previously been possible.  

They also looked at the creative thinking required of mathematicians, and the importance of collaboration between different fields.

Listen to Episode 6:

Listen to the podcast on Spotify.
Download transcript.

• _{Find Professor Harrington on Twitter}
• _{Read more on Professor Harrington’s research at the Centre for Topological Data Analysis, including her work using breast cancer data}