Australia’s paediatric oncology centres provide multidisciplinary, evidence-based care, tailoring treatment plans to each child. Treatments are often combined and sequenced carefully to maximise effectiveness while reducing long-term side effects.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy remains the backbone of childhood cancer treatment, particularly for leukaemias and lymphomas. Administered orally, intravenously, or via injection into the spinal fluid, it targets rapidly dividing cancer cells.

Surgery

Surgery is commonly used to remove solid tumours. Paediatric surgeons work carefully to excise tumours while preserving healthy tissue, organ function, and growth potential.

Radiation Therapy

Radiotherapy uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells. In children, treatment plans are meticulously calculated to minimise effects on growing tissues and developing organs.

Targeted and Immunotherapies

Targeted therapies attack specific molecules or pathways in cancer cells, reducing damage to healthy cells. Immunotherapies stimulate the child’s immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells. These treatments are increasingly used for hard-to-treat cancers and relapsed disease.

Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Transplants

High-risk or relapsed leukaemias often require bone marrow or stem cell transplants. Intensive chemotherapy or radiation destroys the child’s diseased bone marrow, followed by transplantation to restore healthy blood cell production.