Children’s Cancer Unit nurses attend SIOP 2023

As part of our ongoing support for The Children’s Cancer Unit, we provide funding for training and development opportunities for the team who work there. This can range from training courses, travel to and attendance at both local and international conferences and study opportunities.

We were delighted to be able to fund two of the nurses from the Unit to attend the International Society of Paediatric Oncology’s (SIOP) annual congress in Ottawa, Canada earlier this month.

SIOP is the only global multidisciplinary society entirely devoted to paediatric and adolescent cancer. The society has over 2,600 members worldwide including doctors, nurses, other health-care professionals, scientists and researchers. The society’s mission is to improve the lives of children and adolescents with cancer through global collaboration, education, training, research and advocacy.

Here, Susie McGeown, Paediatric Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist and Iszara Crothers, Paediatric Haematology/ Oncology Research Nurse share their experience.

Susie says:

“Attending SIOP was an amazing experience. We had the opportunity to meet new people from all over the world, share different experiences and learn from other health professionals who have a very keen interest and expertise in children’s oncology. This networking was invaluable for developing links with other health professionals and discovering more about new and innovative treatments.

“There was a real focus on family-centred care when caring for a child with cancer and it was really inspiring to hear families and health professionals from all over the world talk about their experiences of childhood cancer.

“It is my hope that from attending SIOP 2023, I will have the opportunity to improve the service we provide to children diagnosed with cancer here in Northern Ireland. I am very grateful to The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity for this amazing opportunity.”

Iszara added:

“This was my first time attending SIOP and it was such a valuable experience. Not only was it great to hear about the advances being made in paediatric haematology and oncology across the world, but as a clinical research nurse, I was so interested to learn more about the new pioneering clinical trials on the horizon globally and for us here in Belfast. I would like to thank The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity for affording me this opportunity to advance my professional development and I would really encourage any of my colleagues to consider attending this conference in the future.”