A small number of patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) may develop a difficult-to-treat condition called neurodegeneration, where their nerve cells slowly stop working and die. It typically affects the brain causing clumsy movements, unsteadiness and slurred speech.
Professor Bob Phillips is the Candlelighters Chair of Supportive Care Research for Children and Young People with Cancer, University of York, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist at Leeds Children’s Hospital and CCLG member.
Jennifer Laidler, from the University of Birmingham’s Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, talks about what clinical trials are and why they are important.
Sports shirts including those of legendary footballers Pele and Diego Maradona are being auctioned to raise funds for children’s brain tumour research.
Professor Mark Gaze, Dr Shermaine Pan, Dr Marinka Hol and Professor Marianne Aznar are part of the SMILE consortium, an international research group dedcated to minimising the long-term impact on the teeth and face in childhood cancer survivors. Here, they tell us about the group’s work.
Dr Mark Brougham and Professor Rod Mitchell are part of the Edinburgh Fertility Preservation team, a group of clinicians and scientists working to develop procedures for fertility preservation in children, teenagers and young adults. They explain what fertility preservation options are available for young cancer patients.
Sam Price’s granddaughter, Sorrelle, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2015. He tells us about the role he played as a grandparent in supporting her, and his hopes for a book he’s written about her treatment.
Sophie Cohn was 17 years old when she was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin lymphoma in November 2019. Now 23, she tells us about the effects of her cancer, what has helped her process her experiences, and how there’s hope for life after treatment.
Vicky Robayna’s daughter, Liz, sadly died from a rare form of cancer aged 17. Vicky explains how, with the right support, there’s hope for families that their child can be comfortable during palliative care, allowing them to make memories and embrace life in the time they have.
