Our impact

We're working to improve the quality and chance of survival for children and young people with cancer and their families. But more than that, we're developing new researchers and improving the ways we do research.

The effects of our work have been felt across the country and beyond. We have been at the forefront of getting the 'magic light' therapies into hospitals around the world. Doctors, medical students and researchers have come to work with us to answer new and important questions. Our patient/family involvement developed new ways of doing this sort of research, as well as directing which research to do.

We've demonstrated improvements in how we manage febrile neutropenia by safely shortening hospitalisations, allowing those at low risk home under the supervision. Read a paper about this research.

Our research can have a massive impact on families.

Shaun was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in April 2015, aged five. He underwent treatment and a stem cell transplant which was initially successful, but sadly he relapsed and died in June 2017.

Since then, Shaun’s mum, Tina, has channelled her experience into supporting research that can improve care for other children. Taking part in the Patient and Family Involvement research groups at Candlelighters helps her carry forward Shaun’s legacy and ensure his experiences make a difference.

“Research is so important to us as a family. Without it, we wouldn’t have had the time that we had with Shaun," she said. "So even though he’s not benefiting from it now, he did benefit from it. We probably had two and a half years more than we would have done. Children many years ago with Shaun’s diagnosis would have died very quickly.”

“Mucositis, for example, was something he suffered really badly with. Being involved with new treatments like the red-light therapy, which was the focus of a recent research group, makes me feel positive that children in the future aren’t going to go through what Shaun went through. The PPI groups are a really important way for children now to have a voice.”

Read the full article about our research helping shape supportive care for children and young people with cancer.