Louise Graham is a clinical specialist paediatric physiotherapist at The Great North Children’s Hospital. She tells us about how she created a physical activity pathway to help children and young people (CYP) with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) stay active, and how she hopes to develop this to support all CYP with cancer.
Dr Claudia Heggie is a paediatric dentist at the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. She’s been leading research looking at the use of photobiomodulation, a light treatment, to prevent a side effect of chemotherapy called mucositis, and how it can be best introduced in other children’s cancer centres.
Teifi Rowley was diagnosed with cancer as a baby and again a few years later. They tell us about Anniben, a drag character they created that has helped them process the long-term impact of treatment through creativity and performance.
Emily Baker, clinical research nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and CCLG member, tells us about her career so far, the most rewarding part of her job, and more.
Raysa Farah’s son, S’aad, was diagnosed with leukaemia aged two. Here, she explains how her and S’aad’s experiences during his treatment inspired her to write a children’s book, empowering both her and other young children with cancer.
A biobank is a store for cancer samples which are then released for research studies. Professor Deb Tweddle, Director of VIVO Biobank, Professor of Paediatric Oncology and Honorary Consultant at Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals, and Dr Mariya Geneshka, Research Associate at the University of York, tell us more about donating samples for biobanking, and its importance to improving treatment and care.
Helen Pearson, Advanced Nurse Practitioner in solid tumours, researcher and CCLG member, explains how the findings of a study have helped co-design an important new web resource to support families.
Teens Unite Fighting Cancer brings together teenagers and young adults living with cancer and its lasting effects. Its CEO, Roxanne Lawrance, explains how surrounding yourself with others in a similar situation can often be helpful during cancer and in the years that follow, and how Teens Unite helps young people do this.
The relationship between oncologists and parents of children with cancer can be complex and unique, with each family having differing needs. Dr Ren Manias, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist at Southampton General Hospital and Contact's medical adviser, tells us how open and honest communication between doctors and parents is key to developing trust and understanding, and why this is important.
