Paediatric oncology (cancer)

Around 1,645 children (up to the age of 15) in the UK are diagnosed with cancer each year with leukaemia, brain tumours and lymphomas as the most common diagnoses in this age group. Half of all cases are found in the 0-4 year age group.

Children's cancers can be quite different from cancers affecting adults and tend to occur in different parts of the body to adult cancers. They also look different under the microscope and respond differently to treatment.

About 2,110 teenagers and young adults (15-24 years old) are diagnosed with cancer every year with carcinomas (breast, cervix and bowel), melanomas (skin) and lymphomas as the most common diagnoses in this age group.  

Cure rates for children are much higher than for most adult cancers. The survival rate for children’s cancer has more than doubled since the 1960s.  More than 8 in 10 children in England now survive their cancer for 5 years or more (all cancers combined); but some cancer groups and cancer types still have much lower survival rate. 

There is a network of specialist centres, known as Principal Treatment Centres, for diagnosing and treating children’s and teenage/young adult cancers. 

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What we offer

Basildon

  • BTUH is a level one paediatric oncology shared care unit (POSCU) which means we can give bolus day case chemotherapy. We offer care close to home for children with a cancer diagnosis and can deliver some of their treatment locally. 
  • We work with two Primary Treatment Centres (PTC) which are Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and University College London Hospital (UCLH).
  • We have one dedicated ensuite cubicle on Wagtail ward for oncology inpatients.
  • Penguin day-care unit is a dedicated four bedded bay, for non-malignant haematology and oncology patients.
  • Paediatric oncology clinic runs every Friday morning between 9am and 1pm in children’s outpatients. This clinic is run by one of the lead oncology paediatric consultants, and the lead paediatric oncology clinical nurse specialist. This clinic facilitates close and long term follow up appointments, chemotherapy appointments and urgent suspected cancer referrals.
  • All patients receiving active treatment, or with a remaining central line, have open access to Wagtail ward.
  • All patients post-treatment have open access, should they need it, to the Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU) until they are transitioned over to the adult services at 16 years old.
  • Basildon Hospital is the only open trial site for the AllTogether trial, for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Any patient enrolled onto this trial, by GOSH or UCLH, within the mid and south Essex catchment area will come to Basildon for their shared care treatment.

Broomfield

  • Broomfield is a level one Paediatric Oncology Shared Care Unit (POSCU) which means we can give bolus day case chemotherapy, blood/platelet transfusions and oral chemotherapy dose adjustments. We offer care close to home for children with a cancer diagnosis and can deliver some of their treatment locally. 
  • We work with three Primary Treatment Centres (PTC) which are Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) University College London Hospital (UCLH) and Addenbrookes.
  • We have one dedicated en-suite cubicle on Phoenix ward for oncology inpatients. The refurbishment of which was kindly funded with a donation from one of our previous oncology patients family.
  • Paediatric oncology clinic runs every Thursday morning between 9am and 1pm in Children’s Outpatients department. This clinic is run by one of the lead oncology paediatric consultants, and the lead paediatric oncology clinical nurse specialist. This clinic facilitates monthly and long term follow up appointments, chemotherapy appointments and urgent suspected cancer referrals.  
  • All patients receiving active treatment, or with a remaining central line, have open access to Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU) and Phoenix ward.
  • All patients post-end of treatment have open access, should they need it one year after completing treatment to the PAU and Phoenix ward.

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Meet the team

Basildon

2 consultants with special interest in paediatric oncology.

1 lead paediatric oncology clinical nurse specialist (CNS) who works Monday, Wedednesday, Thursday and Friday between 8am and 6pm.

1 part-time deputy paediatric oncology CNS.

Broomfield

2 consultants with specialist interest in paediatric oncology.

1 lead paediatric oncology CNS who works Monday to Thursday between 8am and 6pm.

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Contact us

Basildon

Paediatric oncology CNS team - call 07587167754 or 01268524900 using  extension 1259.

Wagtail Ward - call 01268524900 Ext 3520.

Broomfield

Paediatric Oncology CNS - call 07887636733 or 01245 362000 using extension 2635.

Phoenix Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU) - call 01245 513256.

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