Hope

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.

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.

Earlier this year, CCLG launched its new research strategy. Ashley Ball-Gamble, CEO of CCLG, explains what this means for children and young people’s cancer.

Rosie Lazar was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) aged two in 1996. Now 32, she tells us about her cancer treatment as a child, what life looks like now, and why she wants to give back to charities like those that helped her.

Lewis Paget, now 26, was diagnosed with two different leukaemias at the same time as a teenager in 2016. Here, he describes the impact of this, and how it has influenced him to become a cancer researcher himself.

Michael Omotayo was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, when he was two years old in 1995. Now 32, he tells us about his journey from a young child with cancer to becoming a personal trainer and sports performance coach, including the challenges he’s faced and how he’s overcome them.