Improving the quality of life for children with cancer

There are now more than one million new cases of cancer every year in the European Community (EC) including the children to whom particular needs should be addressed. Besides the disease-free survival other outcomes reflecting the impact of treatment on the patient and their families must also be assessed and include their physical, psychological and social functioning throughout their care: during therapy, after completion of treatment or, for some, in the terminal phase of their illness. To provide optimal care and thus improve the quality of life for these children needs: a) an appropriately structured Paediatric Cancer Unit; b) well trained and permanent staff members: comprising doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers and other health care professionals; c) facilities such as a specific out-patient clinic, a hospital school, a residence for parents; d) a well defined programme for the terminally ill children; e) a well defined programme for controlling the late effects of therapy.