MPs have backed a call for action to improve diagnosis and outcomes for youngsters hit by childhood cancers.
East Renfrewshire MP Kirsten Oswald was amongst those who pushed for renewed action to highlight the urgency surrounding improvements required for young sufferers of the disease.
She highlighted a number of cases in her constituency after families pushed for more action.
The politician raised the case of a Barrhead tot who has undergone surgery to remove a large brain tumour, during a Commons’ debate on the issue.
Katie Staff, wrote to MP Kirsten calling highlighting the importance of research to secure better treatment for her two-year-old daughter River and other youngsters hit by cancer, after the tot - diagnosed last September - was left facing intensive chemotherapy and the prospect of further treatment.
She also pointed out that current therapies can lead to long-term side effects for young cancer survivors, and a lack of research means some treatment and care methods have barely advanced in four decades.
Her plea comes after the father of an East Renfrewshire teenager fighting leukaemia fought to highlight his daughter’s battle.
Kirsten, the SNP’s Deputy Leader at Westminster, also revealed the praise heaped on staff at the Glasgow Royal Hospital for Children’s Schiehallion ward - which specialises in treating children with cancer - by parents of young sufferers.
She also once again referred to the case of 17-year-old Newton Mearns lad Daniel Caplan, who died of the illness in 2020, and whose family have worked to raise awareness and funds in his memory.
Kirsten Oswald, Member of Parliament for East Renfrewshire, joined MPs from across the House of Commons in a debate highlighting the need for action to improve outcomes for childhood cancer.
MPs heard that childhood cancer is deemed rare, but is the biggest killer of children under the age of 14, with an average of 12 children and young people diagnosed every day across the UK.
Minister, Maria Caulfield MP, said GPs may only see one or two cases of childhood cancer over the course of their career, making it difficult for them to spot cancers, especially where symptoms may be similar to other illnesses or conditions.
She also referenced progress being made on the treatment of some childhood cancers, with the majority of children now surviving their battles - but accepted that research is crucial to how we deal with childhood cancer in the long term.
Kirsten said: “It was a really humbling experience to hear from so many MPs about the challenges facing young people and their families when they receive a diagnosis
“Members from across the UK echoed what I know to be true, because I have heard it so often before; we all, patients, families and the wider community, are grateful to staff across the UK for the outstanding work they do in these tragic circumstances.”
She added: “None of the members in that debate could disagree that we need a commitment to further research, because, without that, we will not see the better outcomes, the better treatment, and the better ways forward that these children and their families deserve.
“As one of the parents said to me, professionals in the field are doing tremendous work, but they need more backup, and charities are having to do too much of the heavy lifting. We need a government commitment to more specific research into childhood cancers.”
