Childhood brain tumours account for the most common solid tumour (cancer) in childhood and the Royal Children’s Hospital diagnoses around 35 primary school aged children with brain tumours and treats around 150 each year.
Today at 10.30am, Peter Schwab, Coach of Hawthorn Football Club will be launching an educational interactive book about brain tumours for primary school children at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
‘Billy’s Rocket Ship&travelling through the galaxy with a brain tumour’ aims to educate and heighten awareness of this complex and serious child illness. To be used within a primary school setting in conjunction with the Department of Clinical Haematology and Oncology at the Royal Children’s Hospital, the book will be supplied to each classmate and classmates of siblings of primary school aged children diagnosed with a brain tumour at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The book provides basic information about childhood brain tumours, treatments and common symptoms experienced by a child with a brain tumour through an activity based story.
‘Having seen first-hand the impact a brain tumour can have on a child in terms of school attendance and importantly integration with classmates and the general school community, ‘Billy’s Rocket Ship’ will play an important role in assisting a child to return to school during and post completion of treatment,’ said Peter Schwab.
‘The treatment for childhood brain tumours represents one of the most complex illnesses in paediatric health. Children are faced with a daunting journey of lengthy periods of hospitalisation and treatment, which may include a combination of surgery, together with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Awareness of this ‘journey’ and support from the child’s school and wider community is vital,’ said Dr John Heath, Consultant Haematologist and Oncologist at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The book was written by Lisa Buchner, a special education teacher who is the author of several other children’s books on topics such as diabetes, asthma and epilepsy. ‘Billy’s Rocket Ship’ was written with assistance from the Department of Haematology and Oncology at the Royal Children’s Hospital, the Royal Children’s Hospital Education Institute, the Children’s Brain Tumour Association, and Schering-Plough Pty Ltd.
| What: When: Where: |
Book launch of ‘Billy’s Rocket Ship’ Tuesday 29 July, 10.30am Royal Children’s Hospital, Ella Latham Meeting Room Flemington Rd, Parkville |
For further information, please contact Annessa Conquest, Public Affairs, Royal Children’s Hospital, tel: 9345 5138 or page on 9345 5138.
This event received the following media coverage:
- Channel 7 news
- Channel 9 news
- The Age – story and photo
- ABC National Radio, The World Today – interview
- Magic 693 radio news
- 3AW radio news
- 3AK – interview
- Perth 6PR radio news