Penelope Hart-Spencer is a Health Play Specialist at the Proton Beam Therapy Centre at the Christie in Manchester and a member of the CCLG. In this role, she supports children undergoing cancer treatment who require CT/MRI scans, radiotherapy and proton beam therapy treatments, as well as other clinical procedures.
Kay Lewis’ daughter, Maisy, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma in both eyes when she was nine months old. Kay explains what helped them after treatment, and how Maisy continues to inspire her.
Following a childhood cancer diagnosis, parents may find relationships with those around them change, while they may also develop a number of new relationships during their child’s treatment. Here, Dr Amandeep Samrai, Consultant Clinical Psychologist in Paediatric Oncology at Nottingham Children’s Hospital, talks about how relationships can be both helpful and challenging during childhood cancer treatment.
Claire Bailey's daughter, Poppy, was diagnosed with stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma in July 2020 aged four. She writes on how the relationships she’s formed with other families have provided support both during and after Poppy’s treatment.
Sophie was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in April 2021 at the age of seven. Her mother, Tanya, shares her story.
Today (1 September) marks the beginning of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM). This year, in addition to raising awareness of childhood cancer and its signs and symptoms, CCLG is shining a light on research and how, without it, progress in its treatment and care would not be...
People often say that childhood cancer is rare - but is this accurate? Why parents, families, and people who have had cancer often prefer not to use the term rare.
Samuel Priestley was 14 years old when diagnosed with pilocytic astrocytoma in 2018. After almost four years of intense treatments and operations, Samuel passed away in February 2022, aged 18.
Aashna first showed signs of cancer when she started limping as she walked down the stairs at school. For an active and healthy child, it seemed okay. But what followed was a month of progressive loss of mobility, day by day. She began crying at school, taking naps after coming home, and complaining of bone pains even while standing. We dismissed her symptoms as tiredness and growing pains, too busy and hopeful that she’d get better.
