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Prinses Máxima Centrum

Queen Máxima visits Princess Máxima Center in light of five-year anniversary

Her Majesty Queen Máxima visited the Princess Máxima Center today. She interacted with staff, parents and children and was updated by them on innovative research, international collaberation and everyone's experiences at the Máxima. Many people were able to catch a glimpse of the name-giver in the main hall. It was a mutually warm greeting and joyful applause sounded from children, parents and staff.

On June 5, 2023, it will be exactly five years since the Princess Máxima Center was officially opened by Queen Máxima. Since that day, all children with cancer in the Netherlands have been treated at this center, and research into childhood cancer has also been concentrated in Utrecht. Partly in connection with the first anniversary, this working visit was planned.

Orange heart

Upon arrival, Queen Máxima saw Saméo again after five years. The boy is now 13 years old and was in one of the most beautiful photos of the official opening with Her Majesty as a patient. He thought it was ‘super’ to meet the queen again after five years: 'I really wanted to tell her I'm better.' Under the watchful eye of many children, parents and staff of the Máxima Center Her Majesty wrote an 'Orange Heart' card on the occasion of International Childhood Cancer Day on February 15.

Innovation

Innovation and internationalization of the Princess Máxima Center were the focus of the working visit. Queen Máxima had several conversations during the working visit. She spoke with pediatric oncologists and researchers about a targeted immunotherapy that has been added to the treatment protocol for babies with leukemia and how it can get into the treatment room faster thanks to international collaboration. The queen was also informed about outcome indicators, which researchers use to make the quality of care and outcomes measurable with the goal of further improving care in pediatric oncology centers worldwide.

International collaboration

International patient care was also discussed during the visit. Last year, the Princess Máxima Center received sixty-three Ukrainian children with cancer, who were able to continue their treatments here. The number of children coming to the Máxima from abroad for treatment within a clinical trial is also increasing. The center's international partnerships play an important role in this.

Appreciation

Queen Máxima also met with nurses from the center and showed genuine interest and appreciation for their special work and contribution to the mission of the Princess Máxima Center: to cure every child with cancer with optimal quality of life.

A meeting with parents and children was also on the program. The Queen sat at the table with parents and two toddlers. The girls had Acute Lymphatic Leukemia (ALL) as babies and have been successfully treated in recent years with a targeted immunotherapy that was added to the treatment protocol.