Three-quarters of school children surveyed as part of Camp Quality’s Cancer Education Program believe cancer is contagious, and that’s a problem, writes Camp Quality CEO Deborah Thomas.
Can you catch cancer? For some school students, the answer is a resounding yes. That’s why we are travelling the country, visiting schools and early learning centres to correct this misconception and empower young people with age-appropriate knowledge about cancer affecting their family, their friends and their community.
Camp Quality’s engaging and interactive educational puppet show, and associated teacher resources are designed to support children impacted by cancer, be it their own diagnosis or that of a sibling, parent, grandparent, relative or friend.
Sadly, the incidence of childhood cancer is on the rise, increasing by 30 per cent between 2000 and 2017, according to the Australian Childhood Cancer Registry. In 2024 alone, an estimated 760 children, aged 0-14 years, were newly diagnosed with cancer1. Beyond these numbers, which do not include relapses, over 16,000 kids in this age group are directly impacted by the cancer diagnosis and treatment of a parent or primary carer.
Over the past 18 months, Camp Quality has seen a 30 per cent increase in registrations for our programs. In 2024 over 12,300 children impacted by cancer were supported by the Camp Quality team, including our amazing volunteers. The latest projections indicate that by 2027, approximately 25,000 children and their families will be registered for our free, national support services.
While survival rates for children with cancer are continually improving, thanks to our extraordinary doctors, health professionals and researchers, the trauma associated with a cancer diagnosis and long periods of treatment can have a profound and lifelong detrimental effect on their mental health and wellbeing.
Dealing with cancer is traumatic enough, but research indicates that children with cancer also face a heightened risk of bullying compared to their healthy peers. This is often due to visible symptoms of the disease and treatment, such as loss of hair or a limb, visible medical apparatus, as well as misconceptions like the belief that cancer is contagious.
Bullying can have severe consequences for children dealing with cancer, who are already more likely to experience anxiety and social withdrawal. Studies show that 19 per cent of childhood cancer survivors reported having no close friends, compared to just 8 per cent of their healthy counterparts2. These social challenges can further hinder a child’s emotional recovery and overall quality of life.
Beyond the psychological and social challenges faced by children impacted by cancer, the burden on the healthcare and social care sectors continues to grow. A proactive approach to dispelling cancer myths and supporting the mental health and wellbeing of affected children, their families and communities, is crucial. Age-appropriate, cancer education for young people in primary schools can build resilience and understanding and contribute to better long-term outcomes for individuals and their families.
Research conducted by KPMG shows Camp Quality’s Cancer Education Program reduces instances of bullying and absenteeism among children with cancer. This, in turn, lightens the burden on mental health services, with an estimated $4.6 million saved in mental health treatment costs.
Cancer education is essential in addressing the misconceptions that can lead to stigma and bullying for children impacted by cancer. Programs like Camp Quality’s Cancer Education Program play a crucial role in fostering supportive school environments, dispelling myths, and providing vital emotional support. By taking a proactive approach, we can empower educators and communities, alleviate the strain on healthcare services, and improve the overall wellbeing of children impacted by cancer.
Camp Quality provides this service for free to all schools and early learning centres across Australia. We have developed a series of teacher resources in line with the national curriculum to support educators in their discussions with young children with cancer about how best to be a supportive friend or family member.
For more information about having the Camp Quality puppets at your school to perform their entertaining and age-appropriate Cancer Education Program, contact www.campquality.org.au.
1. https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/childhood-cancers/childhood-cancer-statistics-in-australia
2. https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.21390
