September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

In the month of September, we raise awareness of childhood cancer, highlight the many challenges faced by children and their families, and promote efforts to find better treatments and ultimately cures for paediatric cancers. According to statistics found on the CANSA website, currently between 800 to a 1000 South African children are diagnosed with cancer annually. However, it’s estimated that half of the children with cancer in South Africa, are never diagnosed.

Children with cancer and their families should be offered palliative care from the time of diagnosis of the illness yet the misunderstanding still persists that palliative care is only for the end of life. Palliative care aims to improve quality of life and provides holistic care that not only addresses physical pain and symptoms but also the spiritual, social and emotional pain of the child. The sooner the child and family are referred for palliative care the better! You can access our map of services to see where children’s pallaitive care is offered in South Africa.

This Childhood Cancer month, PatchSA wishes to highlight the following five important points relevant to childhood cancer and palliative care:

1. Early integration of palliative care

Palliative care should be considered an integral part of the comprehensive care plan for children with cancer from the time of diagnosis. It focuses on improving the child’s quality of life by addressing their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs throughout the course of the illness.

2. Palliative care offered parallel to curative care

Palliative care and curative treatments are not mutually exclusive. Children can receive curative therapies while also benefitting from the support and symptom relief that palliative care offers.

3. Managing of pain and side effects of treatment

Cancer can cause severe pain and treatments can lead to various side effects and symptoms. Children’s palliative care specialists can assist in managing pain and other symptoms, such as nausea, fatigue, and more, to improve the child’s comfort and quality of life.

4. The value of shared decision making

A palliative care approach will include shared decision-making between the medical team, the child, and the family. This approach allows for treatment decisions that align with the child’s and family’s values and wishes.

5. Offering psychosocial support

Children with cancer and their families often experience emotional and spiritual Palliative care providers offer counselling, social and emotional support, and strategies for coping with the challenges that often accompany the illness.

Learn more about palliative care for children

Our Patch Academy online courses will provide deep insight into all aspects of providing holistic care for children who have cancer and how to support members of their family. Some of the relevant courses found on the online learning platform include:

  • Introducing Children’s Palliative Care
  • Assessing and Managing Children’s Pain
  • Symptom Management in Children’s Palliative Care
  • Holistic Assessment and Palliative Care Planning
  • Ethics and Decision Making in Children’s Palliative Care
  • Psychosocial Support in Children’s Palliative Care
  • Cultural Competency and Spiritual Care in Children’s Palliative Care

Organisations supporting children with cancer

South Africa organisations supporting children and their families with cancer include:

  1. CHOC
  2. CANSA
  3. RAINBOWS AND SMILES
  4. REACH FOR A DREAM