Magazine articles list

A woman wearing a pink hijab, glasses and a black fleece jacket with a yellow name badge that reads 'Hafsa' stands in front of a light green wall. She is smiling and looking directly at the camera.

60 seconds with Hafsa Karim

Hafsa Karim is a Speech and Language Therapist specialising in paediatric and adolescent oncology at UCLH and a member of CCLG. Here, she shares more about her role in working with children and young people with cancer.

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Investigating how DNA communicates with cancer-causing genes

Dr Lisa Russell at the University of Newcastle is leading a £100,000 research project, funded by Ruby’s ‘Live Kindly, Live Loudly’ Fund (CCLG). The study aims to identify key interactions between super-enhancers and proto-oncogenes that drive T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

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Social media: Finding the right balance for you

Mandy Berriman's son, Peter, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in January 2019 when he was eight years old. She tells us how using social media to find information and connect with other families both helped her and presented challenges during Peter’s treatment.

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How friends and family can better support parents to make decisions

Dr Liz Jestico is a senior lecturer in Children’s Nursing at Oxford Brookes University and researcher at the University of Bristol. Here, she tells us about a study she conducted where she talked to parents of children with cancer about how people in their social networks had supported them to make decisions.

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“Be as honest as you can and keep asking for support”

Kate Hibberd’s daughter, Meredith, was diagnosed with b-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma in 2023 aged four. She tells us about how her family has navigated keeping people updated about Meredith's treatment, the importance of asking for support, and how connecting with other families of children with cancer helped them.

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How play fosters effective communication

Becky Rodgers is a health play specialist at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. She tells us about her role in supporting children and young people (CYP) and their families during treatment, helping them to process information and express their thoughts and feelings.

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The importance of multidisciplinary team working in children’s cancer care

Multidisciplinary team (MDT) working is essential in children’s cancer care. Dr Ren Manias, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist at Southampton General Hospital and Contact’s medical adviser, explains how effective communication and shared decision making improve survival rates, enhance quality of life, and support children and their families during their cancer journey.

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Clear and consistent communication was key for us

Lisa Radcliffe’s son, George, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma when he was three years old and sadly died when he was four. Here, she explains how she and her husband, David, quickly found their own approach to communicating with George during his treatment, and how this helped them.