Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: A child with cancer already has so much to swallow

Today marks the start of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month worldwide. This month, the Princess Máxima Center is drawing extra attention to the large amount of medication that children with cancer may need during their treatment. Sometimes, this can be as many as 125 pills a week. We can, and must do better. 

Children, pharmacy and researchers 

This month, children will share a glimpse into their treatment on our social media channels. From drawers full of medication to medicines given through a feeding tube. 

Our pharmacy colleagues show how they are working to make medicines more child-friendly. And researchers explain how they are developing more personalized medication and smarter treatments, aiming for the best possible effect with as few side effects as possible. 

Children receiving treatment at the Máxima Center can also take a look behind the scenes at our pharmacy. Would you like a tour of the pharmacy’s front and back office? You can sign up via this link. 

Online, on the streets and as an artwork 

The campaign can be seen on our website, social media channels, billboards across the city and along the highway, as well as at Hoog Catharijne shopping center. From September 16, an artwork made from 600 pills will be on display at the Waterwerk there. 

The mountain of pills makes the amount of medication that can be part of a child’s cancer treatment visible in a striking way.