Lauren Bryce’s son, Alfie, had just begun his final year of school when he was diagnosed with leukaemia, aged 15. Here, she tells us about their struggles with the education system after his diagnosis and what could have helped him as he prepared to take his GCSEs.
Sophie Barclay was 15 when diagnosed with a brain tumour, making schooling and exams difficult. Now 18, she tells us how, with the support of her school, she has received a conditional offer for university.
Dr. Ren Manias, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist at Southampton General Hospital, explains that while a cancer diagnosis impacts a child's learning, various support options—including hospital schools, home tutoring, and remote learning—are available to help maintain educational continuity and emotional wellbeing during and after treatment.
Diffuse midline glioma is a devastating brain tumour, affecting primarily young children. There’s currently no cure for this disease and treatment options are limited. This is mainly because this type of tumour is well-protected from drugs by the ‘blood-brain barrier’. This barrier physically blocks all medications from entering the brain. Our group has developed new methods of bypassing this barrier using focused ultrasound.
Gail Beaumont, a dedicated hospital teacher at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, shares insights into her unique role in providing education and support to young patients during their hospital stays.
Emily Varley, a school special educational needs and disabilities coordinator (SENDCo) based in Leicestershire
Louise Robinson is a neuro-oncology outreach nurse specialist at East Midlands Children’s and Young Persons’ Integrated Cancer Service. Here, she emphasises the importance of collaboration and explains how a support pathway helps young patients with their education.
Lily Morris was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in 2022 aged 15. Now 16, she tells us about its impact on her GCSE preparations, and the support she’s received from her school and friends as she transitioned back into full-time education.
Charlotte Bowling's daughter, Amelie, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in June 2019 aged six. Charlotte tells us about the support her daughter and her family received from her school, including an innovative way of ensuring Amelie was involved even when not physically present.
