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.
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.
Parents and carers of children who have been diagnosed with cancer often have many questions about school and education. Keeley McEvoy, Lead Assistant Headteacher of the Medical Needs Teaching Service working at Leeds Children’s Hospital, explains more about what to expect from hospital teaching, ongoing education support and transitioning back to school.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Children with cancer who also have learning difficulties and autism often have additional needs when it comes to their care. Jeanette Hawkins, CCLG’s Chief Nurse, tells us more about a project aiming to improve support for this group of patients.
Gareth Veal, Professor of Cancer Pharmacology at the Newcastle University Cancer Centre, leads a team helping doctors to personalise treatments through an innovative process called ‘therapeutic drug monitoring’. Here, he tells us more about his work.
