Childhood cancer and proton beam therapy

Survival of UK children with cancer is showing sustained improvement, with the proportion of under 15s living five years after diagnosis now at 82%.1 With more young people facing the prospect of long term cure, focus has moved from “cure at all cost” to “the cost of cure.” This is particularly important in brain tumours, as they account for nearly a quarter of all cancers in this age group. Although cure rates have improved, these cancers are the commonest cause of deaths from cancer in children, and 60% of survivors are moderately or severely disabled.2 Novel therapeutic strategies are being introduced in the hope of increasing survival rates while maximising the quality of resultant long term survival. Proton beam therapy, the focus of much recent discussion, is one such strategy.

The case of Ashya King has highlighted the immense pressure that develops for children, their parents, and their treating teams when dealing with the complex clinical management of brain tumours.3 Working closely and effectively with parents in the best interests of the ill child is an overwhelming priority for clinical teams. When communication breaks down, the consequences can be profound, as noted by the medical director of Southampton General Hospital.4 This underlines the importance …