Magazine articles list

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.

Christina Harris’ daughter, Skye, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in 2021, aged 10. Having received little support from her employer following Skye’s diagnosis, culminating in her eventually losing her job, she explains why she’s now campaigning for parents with seriously ill children to be legally entitled to a career break while they care for their child.

During cancer treatment, children and young people (CYP) and their families will meet, and receive care from, a wide range of healthcare professionals. Mostly, these will be their consultants or clinical nurse specialists, but there are many others who will provide wider, and pivotal, support. We hear from three such people about their roles.

Sian Brown’s son, George, was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma in April 2019 when seven months old. Here, she explains how she gave up work to care for George and the financial implications of this, and how volunteering work led her back into employment helping other families of children with cancer.

Nicky Webb is a Clinical Nurse Specialist and a member of CCLG who provides support for the long-term follow-up care of childhood cancer survivors.

Roxanne Lawrance is Chief Executive at Teens Unite Fighting Cancer, a charity that supports teenagers and young adults impacted by a cancer diagnosis. Here, she tells us about some of the ways Teens Unite helps young people who have had cancer gain vital skills, experience and insight to prepare them for searching for and starting employment.