Why Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is so important to me

Every September, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, I’m reminded of what was, without doubt, the hardest chapter in my family’s life.

When my daughter Issy was 13, she was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma. Overnight, our world changed. Over the course of the following 12 months, Issy went through a gruelling treatment programme. During that time, it struck me as a parent how little age-appropriate patient education was available to her. Not only was she battling cancer, but she was also left feeling scared, anxious, and isolated. All because no one could explain what was happening in a way she could truly understand.

Thankfully, Issy made a full recovery and today, as a young adult, she is cancer-free. But that experience revealed a problem that goes far beyond her own journey. Research shows that when children are given education they can understand before treatment, it reduces anxiety, improves compliance and adherence, and even leads to better clinical outcomes. When that information is missing, the consequences ripple through not only the child’s wellbeing but also the healthcare system itself.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

That’s why Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is so important to me. It’s not only a time to honour the children and families affected, but also a moment to recognise the urgent need for better support. Every child deserves to feel informed, reassured, and empowered when they face medical treatment.

It was Issy’s experience that inspired me to co-found Xploro. I wanted to help close this gap and make healthcare education accessible, engaging, and age-appropriate. No child should ever feel alone in the face of illness because of poor communication.

This September, I’ll be reflecting on Issy’s journey – and the journeys of countless other children and families – as we continue working to change the experience of healthcare for young patients everywhere.

World Child Cancer

This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we’re also highlighting the important work of our partners, World Child Cancer. We work with this amazing organisation to bring Xploro to children in countries including Ghana, Malawi, Cameroon, Indonesia, and Nepal, free of charge.

Every donation to their campaign during September will be tripled, helping support more young patients being treated for cancer in low- and middle-income countries.