Candlelighters, a Yorkshire-based cancer charity, is celebrating the success of its groundbreaking at-home chemotherapy service for children, which aims to make treatment more accessible and reduce the strain on families.
Throughout 2024, the charity funded a new NHS role—Candlelighters’ Chemotherapy Project Nurse Specialist. The role, which will be funded for two years, is designed to gather evidence on the benefits of home chemotherapy for children with cancer. The charity hopes this service will become a standard part of the treatment plan at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Neil Shaw, a specialist nurse overseeing the project, explained, “This service allows us to provide chemotherapy at home, which has proved incredibly beneficial for families. Many children undergo regular hospital visits for their cancer treatment, but this can be challenging, especially for those living far from the hospital.”
For many families in Yorkshire, the closest treatment centre is Leeds Children’s Hospital, which means long, tiring trips for regular appointments. These journeys can be costly, time-consuming, and emotionally draining. For families relying on public transport, the situation can be even more difficult. The physical and emotional toll on children and their families is significant, often leading to missed school or work and disrupting family routines.
Candlelighters CEO Emily Wragg highlighted the positive impact of the at-home service: “We recognised that this approach could make a huge difference for children and their families. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re delighted with the results so far.”
Sara Akers, mother to four-year-old Alfie, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2023, shared how the at-home chemotherapy service has eased her family’s burden. “When Alfie was diagnosed, it was an overwhelming shock. The treatment process separated us as a family, as I was with Alfie in hospital while my husband, Phil, stayed at home with our daughter,” she said.
However, the ability to receive chemotherapy at home transformed their experience. “Alfie only had to go into hospital for 20 days over an eight-month treatment period. The rest of the time, chemotherapy was administered at home. This meant I could still look after both my children and maintain family routines, like bath time and bedtime, which was a huge relief.”
Sara also praised the support provided by Neil Shaw, the chemotherapy nurse. “Having the same trusted, friendly face during Alfie’s treatment was invaluable. Neil not only cared for Alfie but also for our whole family. He became a real support to me during some tough times.”
Candlelighters hopes that this service will serve as a model for other healthcare teams across the country. Emily Wragg said, “This role is the first of its kind, and we’re seeing huge benefits for the families involved. We hope this service will inspire others to adopt similar approaches.”
Candlelighters relies entirely on donations and fundraising to support families dealing with childhood cancer. The charity’s ability to fund initiatives like the at-home chemotherapy service is made possible by the generosity of the community.
As the service continues to demonstrate its value, Candlelighters looks forward to expanding its impact and helping more families across the region. To learn more about Candlelighters, please visit www.candlelighters.org.uk