Why is childhood cancer research needed?
When Candlelighters was formed in the 1970s, sadly very few children survived. Today, things are different. Advances in research and medicine mean that now over 80% of children diagnosed with cancer will survive for five years or more.
But some children with cancer still face a poor outlook. Certain cancers have seen little progress in treatments or survival for many years.
What's more, treatment for cancer in children is intense. The side effects can be traumatic, detrimental to a child's quality of life, and can even be life-threatening.
Sores in the mouth can make it painful to talk or swallow. Sickness, vomiting, and changes to taste can put children off eating, which can lead to malnutrition. Drugs can make children more vulnerable to infections, making common childhood illnesses potentially life-threatening. Hair loss can be upsetting and damage confidence. Tiredness and pain can stop them from doing normal daily activities that every child should enjoy.
And even if a child is cured, their cancer and the treatment they received can have life-long consequences. Puberty and fertility may be affected, reducing the chances of having their own children later in life. Some treatments may slow growth or affect the brain, leading to learning difficulties.
Cancer also takes an emotional toll on children and their families. Long hospital stays separate children from their parents, siblings, and loved ones and can lead to feelings of isolation, boredom, and loneliness. Treatment often removes children from school, away from their friends and education. Worries about the future, stress, and the whirlwind of medical appointments can strain relationships with parents and siblings. Children and young people going through cancer are at increased risk of mental health problems later in life.
In short, a cancer diagnosis turns lives upside down: not just for the child but the entire family.
What are our aims?
Candlelighters' vision is to bring light and hope to every family affected by childhood cancer across Yorkshire. Ultimately, we want any child diagnosed with cancer to survive and thrive. Research has the power to achieve both of these things.
Candlelighters brings hope to families by funding quality research to improve the care of children with cancer in Yorkshire and beyond.
We want to make sure that every child has the best possible chance of survival, the best possible support throughout, and the best possible quality of life during and after cancer.
The aims of our research are to:
- Diagnose cancer earlier
- Find better, kinder treatments
- Improve quality of life
- Increase the chance of survival for all children with cancer
- Attract and train the best healthcare professionals to look after children and their families in Yorkshire
How do we approach research?
Our close relationship with Leeds Children's Hospital allows us to work with brilliant doctors and researchers looking to improve care for children with cancer. We pay attention to what's happening on the front line and respond to it, contributing to the vital pipeline of research.
Many of our projects have started with relatively small pots of funding to help researchers test ideas in their initial stages. By doing this they can gather the evidence needed to apply for much larger grants. This means we can support a wide variety of work and use our resources to make the biggest difference for children with cancer. We've supported research programmes that might not have found funding elsewhere and helped them to advance and make an impact.
Research isn't just about lab equipment and test tubes. It's done by people - brilliant and dedicated researchers. We invest in researchers at all stages of their careers, providing them with the time and resources they need to make a difference. And we're committed to the longer-term view of children's cancer, funding projects now to help build a brighter future.
We work with experts to ensure that the projects we fund are worthwhile. Our research partnership with Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) means potential investments are peer-reviewed, held to high standards, and accredited by the Association of Medical Research Charities. We proactively enable high-quality research to improve the lives of children with cancer, not only in Yorkshire, but throughout the rest of the UK and beyond.
Why are we best placed to do this work?
- We care deeply about childhood cancer. For over 45 years, we've supported children and their families through cancer - we understand the problems that they face. Our research aims to address these challenges so that future children don't have to face them.
- We're on the front line. Working closely alongside Leeds Children's Hospital for so long, we know what cancer treatment on oncology wards is really like. We work with medical staff to identify the research that will make a big difference in Yorkshire, the rest of the UK, and beyond.
- We're agile. Being a relatively small charity means we can make decisions quickly - if a good idea comes along and we can fund it, we will.
- We're open-minded. Whether it's to develop new drugs, diagnostic tests, or improve the support we can provide, we'll fund any kind of research that improves care for children with cancer.
- We're brave. We support new, innovative ideas and researchers early in their careers because every advance in medical care has to start somewhere. We decide what research to fund with guidance from experts - clinicians, researchers, and families affected by cancer. So, we're confident the chances we take are worth taking.
- We have a great team behind us. Our staff and trustees are invested in providing the best possible support for children with cancer and have a positive, can-do attitude. They're ambitious and determined, always making the most of the resources at our disposal.
What impact is our research having?
In the last 25 years alone, we have invested over £11m into cancer research. This is helping to improve the chances of survival and quality of life of children affected by cancer.
Our research has enabled:
- A world-leading cancer register for children and young people, revealing new insights into the factors influencing survival and long-term quality of life. This will help to guide further research areas to give young people with cancer the best chance of a long and healthy life.
- New international guidance on treating fevers in children with cancer that can help them spend less time in hospital and more time at home, with friends and family, and in education.
- New blood tests to assess the long-term outlook for children with neuroblastoma. This will one day help every child receive tailored treatment, giving them the best chance of a cure.
- Fostering a research culture through a fellowship programme, attracting and retaining great medical staff to improve care for children in Leeds and the rest of Yorkshire.
- Cutting-edge research into brain tumours, to find kinder therapies and ultimately cures for these hard-to-treat cancers.
The life-changing research we fund is all thanks to support from donations and fundraising. We receive no government funding and only a small proportion of national cancer research funding is spent on researching children's cancers. Your support is vital to continue making progress. If you'd like to support our research, please donate today.
