CAR T-cell therapy is an exciting new treatment for acute leukaemia. In this episode, Dr Geoff interviews his colleague Dr Caroline Bateman about CAR T-cells and introducing the treatment option to her unit. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is a special subtype of neuroblastoma seen in very young children, with spread of disease throughout the body, but which needs a very different approach to treatment compared to older children with metastatic disease. This episode explains the features of this stage MS neuroblastoma, the early problems, and the treatment used. Link to Patreon…

Childhood cancer treatment leads to severe impairment of the ability to fight infections. This episode explains what immune suppression means, what causes it, and the problems that result. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A few years ago I described CAR T-cells, but they weren't available for routine use. I now update things, with the very important news about CAR T-cell therapy now becoming available. There is also an interview with Dr Caroline Bateman re this subject in another episode. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

We take a lot of blood samples looking for infection in the bloodstream. This episode explains what blood cultures are all about. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

A number of countries have research studies where childhood cancers are analysed in great detail, testing all the DNA in something called 'molecular profiling'. The national Australian study of this is called PRISM, and it is a very exciting project. This episode explains a molecular profiling project and covers issues of obtaining informed consent…

The MEK inhibitors are a newer class of drug, and include trametinib, selumetinib and others. They have an important role in paediatric oncology, particularly in glioma treatment and in neurofibromatosis. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sophisticated techniques can detect one cancer cell amongst a million normal cells. This episode describes these methods and how they are used in treatment. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

For many years we didn't biopsy the tumour when the scans suggested that the tumour was a DIPG. This episode explains why that has changed, and the emerging role of biopsy. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

DIPG is a type of brain tumor which occurs in children. This episode explains what the letters mean. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Ifosfamide is another chemotherapy drug, used particularly in certain sarcomas and certain patients with leukaemia. This episode explains how it is given, and common and rare side effects. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

We often need to evaluate heart function during chemotherapy. This episode explains what the tests are, and why we need to do them. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

At the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in June 2016, a study was presented looking at using two autologous bone marrow transplants in neuroblastoma. The results were exciting.... Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

In this episode I read out for you an article written by Dr Susan Cohn from the University of Chicago. Dr Cohn is an eminent paediatric oncologist, and a world expert on children's cancer trials, particularly in neuroblastoma. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

When families find themselves in a hospital, they meet all sorts of doctors with all sorts of titles, residents, interns, fellows, registrars. This episode explains who's who in the childhood cancer medical team. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Chemotherapy can make the white blood cell count drop, predisposing to infection. These drugs work to boost white blood cell production. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

I talked about MIBG scans previously. In this episode I discuss the use of high doses of MIBG as a treatment of neuroblastoma. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer: What's special about the AYA's? by Dr Geoff Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

MIBG scans are used to evaluate and monitor neuroblastoma. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

My Christmas Special episode. Includes the Top 12 people who deserve a Christmas present more than the oncologist. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Parents always ask why their child developed cancer. They ask if it is genetic, meaning is it something hereditary, or some abnormality in the DNA that the child was born with. In this episode I discuss a recent paper that examined this question. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

There are multiple ways to go looking for DNA, RNA and protein abnormalities. Many should still be considered research, not standard practice, but they may well be part of the future of cancer therapy. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Lymphomas make up about 11% of childhood cancer, and there are several different types. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

There's multiple ways the DNA code can get messed up and lead to cancer. This episode describes some of them, along with some little green men. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

The proteins have to have the right amino acids all assembled in the right order, and the DNA code is the recipe that's used. This episode explains how the correct DNA leads to the right protein being made. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

To understand all this DNA analysis business, first one needs to know a bit about proteins. Proteins basically do all the work in cells, and so DNA mutations interfere with protein structures.Serious geek alert! Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Gliomas are a type of brain tumour, and are usually called 'low grade' or 'high grade'. What do these terms mean? Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Some chemotherapy drugs don't get into the brain and spinal fluid properly, so we have to inject drugs into the spinal fluid. This is mainly in leukaemia and lymphoma. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

We often need to take samples of the spinal fluid, and regularly inject chemotherapy drugs there too. We do this using a lumbar puncture. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

When eating and nasogastric feeding aren't working, we may need to give nutrition straight into the vein. That's called TPN or hyperalimentation. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

There's a lot of discussion about 'personalised medicine'. What is personalised oncology? Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

If children just can't eat enough, we may need a feeding tube. This episode explains what these tubes are all about. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

If nutrition is so important, then what food should kids eat while on chemotherapy? Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Children on chemotherapy can really struggle to maintain their weight. This episode explains why. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Exciting new antibodies against cancer were reported at ASCO this year. This episode explains how they work. Will they end up useful in childhood cancer? Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

The doctors and nurses keep raving on about fevers, not cancer.... what's this all about?This information may be life-saving. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Most new drugs for cancer are first evaluated in adult patients, then we wait, and wait for access for children. The Europeans appear to have this sorted out. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

High dose methotrexate is used in leukaemia, lymphoma, osteosarcoma and certain brain tumours. We give a sky-high dose, then give the antidote, folinic acid, to 'rescue' the patient! Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Phase 3 trials are the big studies that compare a new treatment to the existing standard treatment. They enrol lots of patients and take years to complete. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

How do we decide what clinical trials to open at a given institution? Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Why I took two days off, and why kids on chemo should go to school (usually) by Dr Geoff Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Platelets are tiny little cells that make blood clot properly. They go low after chemotherapy sometimes, and we often end up giving a platelet transfusion. That's one reason why blood donors save lives!This episode explains all about platelet transfusions. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

We rely on central lines enormously, but they can bring their own problems. This episode describes the common things that can go wrong with a central line. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

We often have to give blood transfusions following chemotherapy. This episode explains why we end up needing transfusions, when we give them, and what to expect. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

AML requires chemotherapy treatment, and sometimes bone marrow transplantation. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

We use phase 2 trials to conduct an initial evaluation of whether a new therapy has activity against cancer or leukaemia. This episode describes how phase 2 trials are performed. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Phase I trials are the studies we do to work out the safety and dosing of new drugs. This podcast explains how they are conducted in adults and children. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Clinical trials are core business in childhood cancer units. It is through clinical trials that we have worked out what treatments are effective, and future trials will lead to further gains. This episode describes what a clinical trial is, and introduces some of the key concepts. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info…

This episode describes the two types of central lines that are generally used in children receiving chemotherapy. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff

Acute myeloid leukaemia is the second main form of leukaemia in childhood. This podcast explains what the disease is, and the tests and treatments done at initial diagnosis. Link to Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Dr Geoff