September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and in this blog our content channel editor Lucy explains some of the cancers that can affect children. She also talks about the support that is available for children with cancer and their families.
It’s one of a parent’s deepest fears - to hear the doctor explain that their child has cancer. I can only begin to imagine what it must feel like. It is very rare for cancer to affect children and young people, and the causes are still unknown. Cancer affects 1 in 500 children under the age of 15 in the UK. Survival rates have improved significantly over the last 50 years, with about 80 % of children now being completely cured.
For Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September we are focusing on the support and information available to children and their families affected by cancer that could make everyday life a little bit easier.
Types of childhood cancer
Childhood cancers can be different to cancers that affect adults. They tend to affect different areas of the body and respond differently to treatment. Many cancers can affect children, however the types which affect children the most are:
Leukaemia
Leukaemia is the most common cancer to affect children aged under 15. Leukaemia is a cancer which starts in the bone marrow – the material in the middle of bones where blood cells are made. It leads to the over-production of abnormal white blood cells, which interfere with the production of healthy blood cells needed by the body. The main types of leukaemia found in children are:
Brain and spine (CNS) tumours
Around a quarter of cancers in children occur in the brain and spine. A tumour develops in the brain or spine when cells begin to grow out of control. These cancers do not usually spread to other parts of the body but can increase in size and put pressure on surrounding tissue.
There are many other types of cancer that affect children, including sarcomas, lymphoma and embryonal tumours. Detailed information about the cancers that can affect children can be found here.
What support is available for parents and children?
Macmillan nurses
Macmillan paediatric nurses help children with cancer and their families. They provide support for the child and parents at home and in hospital, and help to keep children at home with their families as much as possible. In the video below, Emily and her family share their story on the positive effects their Macmillan nurse brought into their lives.
If you would like to receive support from a Macmillan nurses or find out more information, visit our website.
Our Online Community
Macmillan has an Online Community group called ‘Parents of children with cancer’. The group is designed to provide support to parents who have children with cancer. The group is a welcoming and open place where parents can share their stories, provide information and support to one another and interact with other parents who are going through similar experiences.
Tom’s Gift
Tom’s Gift is a special present sent to children aged 0 to 16 who need treatment for cancer. The gift was created by The Tom Grahame Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support, and is a small way to celebrate the amazing courage and resilience of children facing cancer. If you would like to order Tom’s Gift for a child you know who is facing cancer, please go to our website or call the Macmillan Grants team on 020 7840 7810.
CLIC Sargent
CLIC Sargent provides clinical, practical, and emotional support to help children and young people cope with cancer and get the most out of life. The charity produces a magazine for 7 to 13 year olds which includes fun things to do in hospital or at home, as well as stories from children in similar situations. CLIC Sargent also produces storybooks for parents to read to children to help them understand what cancer is and the treatments involved. For Childhood Cancer Awareness month, CLIC Sargent are focusing on the financial impact of cancer, and are providing grants of £170, to help families access financial support.
Molly Olly’s Wishes
Molly Olly’s Wishes supports children with terminal or life threatening illnesses and their families, to help with their emotional wellbeing. The charity grants individual wishes and donates therapeutic toys and books to both children directly and to hospitals throughout the UK. The charity has developed a therapeutic toy lion, Olly The Brave, and a storybook, to help children’s emotional well-being by explaining, in a child-friendly way, the start of their treatment journey. These are donated to hospitals and individuals and can be applied for online.
Children with Cancer UK
Children with Cancer UK want to help more children with cancer across the UK. They invest in research, welfare and campaigning programmes to save young lives. They support families, have information about different childhood cancers and raise awareness.
More information
If you would like more information, the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group have produced a detailed booklet ‘Children and young people with cancer: a parent’s guide', which can be downloaded from our website. The booklet provides information from diagnosis through to treatment and follow-up, and includes a list of other useful organisations and charities.
The Macmillan website contains detailed information on all aspects of childhood cancers, including how to cope with your feelings and the effects on siblings. In addition to our online information, we also have booklets that can be downloaded digitally or read online from the be.macmillan website.
To see what else Macmillan's cancer information team has been blogging about, please visit our blog home page! You can subscribe to receive our blogs by email or RSS too.
We're with you every step of the way
The Macmillan team is here to help. Our cancer support specialists can answer your questions, offer support, or simply listen if you need a chat. Call us free on 0808 808 00 00.
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