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About the Children's Cancer Centre
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About- Fund raising events!!
- Newsletter
- Educational Seminars
- A Children's Cancer Centre
- Children's Cancer Centre Newsletter
- The Royal Children's Hospital Redevelopment update
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About
The Children's Cancer Centre formerly The Department of Haematology and Oncology at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital has a long, world-class history of paediatric cancer research and treatment. The roots of the Centre stretch back almost 40 years, with the establishment of the Haematology Research Unit in 1965.
The Centre's reputation for excellence began from the outset, with its world-first co-ordination and publication of a multi-institutional trial demonstrating the utility of chemotherapy in curing childhood leukaemia. This helped establish the basis for modern cancer care.
In 1971 the Department of Clinical Haematology and Oncology was formed. In 2003 the Children's Cancer Centre was established. The centre made major and innovative contributions to the research and treatment of all types of childhood cancer, including:
- Hodgkin's disease
- Ewings Sarcoma
- Acute leukaemia
- Bone Marrow transplantation
- Brain tumours
It is these contributions which have seen cure rates in childhood cancer increase from around 20% in the early 1970's to close to 80% in the majority (Acute Leukaemia, Hodgkin"s Disease) but in some the cure rates remain disappointing.
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The Children's Cancer Centre today:
Each year, the Centre treats around 160 newly diagnosed cancer patients under the age of 18. A further 1000 or so children receive ongoing treatment and/or active patient follow-up. |
A Children's Cancer Centre
While the Children's Cancer Centre has excellent results of treatment with cure rates in childhood cancer, around 40 -50 children in our community continue to die each year of incurable cancers. Of those children who do survive, some still experience a range of long-term side effects resulting from their cancer and/or associated treatment.
The Centre's vision is to improve the outcomes for all our children.
- Greater survival rates
- Less illness
- Improved treatments
- Increased availability of world class clinical trials
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The new Chidlren's Cancer Centre was officially opened by The Hon Tony Abbott, Federal Minister for Heath, the Hon Steve Bracks MP The Premier of Victoria on Tuesday October 10th 2006 |