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Childhood Cancers: Research
07 December 2020
Lead MP
Tonia Antoniazzi
Gower
Lab
Responding Minister
Jo Churchill
Tags
Science & Technology
Word Count: 13163
Other Contributors: 14
At a Glance
Tonia Antoniazzi raised concerns about childhood cancers: research in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The petitioners want the National Institute for Health Research classification system to include specific cancer types and age data, a commitment from the Government on ongoing funding obligations, and for a set percentage of other funding to be ring-fenced for research on childhood cancers. The Government is asked to fund research on rare cancers to give future generations a fighting chance.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Children's cancers represent under 2% of all UK cancers but over 500 children die from cancer each year, making it the most common cause of death in children. DIPG has a 0% survival rate and no meaningful advances have been made since 1962 when Neil Armstrong lost his daughter to this type of brain tumour. Despite rare cancers being collectively as common as 'common' ones, they do not receive proportional research funding, leading to no current UK trials for DIPG.
Alex Norris
Lab Co-op
Nottingham North and Kimberley
He echoed the commendation for Fiona Govan, whose petition garnered over 100,000 signatures following her grandson Logan's death from DIPG. He highlighted that while research has improved survival rates for some childhood cancers, many remain devastatingly low, with DIPG having a two-year survival rate of less than 10% and no cure. He questioned the Minister on improving funding allocation and the allocation status of the £40 million announced for brain tumour research in 2018.
Carla Lockhart
DUP
Upper Bann
She spoke about Cameron Truesdale, a 11-year-old boy from her constituency who died of DIPG cancer. Lockhart emphasised the devastating impact on families and called for specific attention to childhood cancers with low survival rates, including ring-fenced funds for research and transparency in data.
Chris Evans
Lab Co-op
Caerphilly
Chris Evans highlighted the story of Izzy Withers, a constituent who died from DIPG in 2019. He explained that DIPG is highly malignant and has few survivors, with radiotherapy often worsening symptoms. Care was inadequate due to administrative limbo between paediatric and adult care, leaving families burdened by additional tasks such as seeking treatment and support services.
Derek Thomas
Cons
St Ives
Commemorating Fiona Govan's work to secure signatures for the debate, Derek Thomas expressed his personal understanding of family loss and highlighted the devastating prognosis of DIPG brain tumours. He also shared details about a British company conducting clinical trials in the US and urged the Minister to investigate why these trials are not being conducted in the UK.
Duncan Baker
Con
North Norfolk
I shared the story of little Benny Pitcher, a six-year-old who lost his battle with DIPG after just over a year. There is currently no improvement in survival rates for DIPG despite advances in other areas. Duncan highlighted that only one fifth of childhood cancer research is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care.
Grahame Morris
Lab
Easington
Discussed the work of the Bradley Lowery Foundation, established after a six-year-old boy lost his fight against neuroblastoma. The foundation supports research into less common cancers and collaborates with other charities for better funding distribution. Urged the Minister to engage more closely with smaller charities like the Bradley Lowery Foundation that fund vital research into harder-to-treat childhood cancers.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Mr Smith highlighted the devastating impact of DIPG, a type of brain tumour affecting children. He recounted the story of Georgia Paul who had been diagnosed with DIPG and died within seven months despite her family's determination to fight the disease. Mr Smith also mentioned Sue Farrington-Smith's work in establishing Brain Tumour Research which has campaigned for increased funding towards research. He stated that although there have been improvements in treating childhood brain tumours, more funding is needed specifically for DIPG research as only 20.8% of UK childhood cancer research is government-funded.
Kirsten Oswald
SNP
Dumfries
In memory of Daniel Caplan, Kirsten Oswald highlighted the stark reality that there have been no new treatments for childhood brain stem tumours for 40 years. She called for a renewed focus on research and increased awareness to improve outcomes for children diagnosed with DIPG.
Luke Evans
Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
Described the inspirational story of Isla Tansey, a seven-year-old diagnosed with DIPG who passed away in 2018. Highlighted her initiative #islastones which spread worldwide to over 149 countries involving more than 75,000 people and led to setting a world record for the largest display of painted stones at 8,542 stones. Emphasised the need for transparency in funding, improvement in treatment options, and better clinical pathways.
Patricia Gibson
SNP
North Ayrshire and Arran
The MP expressed concern over the lack of progress in treating DIPG, a form of brain cancer affecting children. She highlighted that approximately 12 children are diagnosed with cancer daily, with one in five dying within five years. The MP shared the story of Fiona Govan and her grandson Logan who passed away from DIPG, emphasizing the need to raise awareness and improve treatment options for such cases.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Rachael mentioned Grace's story, a child who died of rhabdoid tumour at four and a half years old. She pointed out that Cancer Research UK has had to cut its research budget by £44 million due to covid-19 and called for the Government to establish a life sciences-charity partnership fund.
Sarah Atherton
Lab
Wrexham
Ms Sarah Atherton spoke about her constituent Eva, a 10-year-old with DIPG, an inoperable brain tumour. She highlighted the cruel impact of the pandemic on Eva's access to experimental treatment and raised £310,000 for her care. Ms Atherton emphasised the lack of progress due to funding issues despite advancements in other areas such as the vaccine research.
Steve Brine
Con
Fareham
He discussed the tragic outcomes for DIPG patients, highlighting a mother's account of her son Atticus' diagnosis and death. He noted that survival rates for DIPG have not improved in 50 years despite increased health research funding. Brine urged the Government to convene experts to centralise efforts and stimulate new prioritisation strategies for DIPG research.
Wes Streeting
Lab
Ilford North
Mr Streeting stressed the need for concrete actions rather than just warm words and reassurance to address DIPG, a rare type of brain tumour affecting children. He mentioned his constituent Kaleigh Lau who died from DIPG and noted that families campaigning on this issue are seeking real commitments from the Government. Mr Streeting acknowledged challenges in researching children's cancers such as lack of industry support and fragmented expertise, and called for the UK to be a world leader in researching DIPG.
Government Response
Jo Churchill
Government Response
Acknowledged the petitioners and thanked the hon. Member for Gower for securing the debate. Highlighted the devastating impact of DIPG on families, acknowledging progress in cancer research over the past 40 years but emphasizing that more needs to be done, especially with DIPG. Noted £1 billion investment by NIHR in cancer research and announced £40 million funding over five years for brain tumour research including DIPG. Emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts across various organizations and charities, including Cancer Research UK and the Brain Tumour Charity. Mentioned ongoing work on early diagnosis of childhood cancers and development of new drug interventions through genetic sequencing. Reiterated commitment to stopping at nothing to make childhood cancer a thing of the past.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.