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Child cancer in New Zealand

All children with cancer in New Zealand have their care co-ordinated by a Specialist Treatment Centre. There are two Specialist Treatment Centres for childhood cancers in Aotearoa: the Starship Blood and Cancer Centre in Auckland and the Children’s Haematology Oncology Centre in Christchurch.

Our initiative

Child cancers are rare, and each case is unique

The most common cancers in Aotearoa (and globally) are acute leukaemia* and cancers of the brain and spinal cord.

150+ Diagnoses in NZ a year

Around 150 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in Aotearoa

Most Common Cancers

The most common cancers in Aotearoa (and globally) are acute leukemia and cancers of the brain and spinal cord.

2 out of 3 Kids Affected

2/3 children with cancer are diagnosed with cancer of their blood cells, lymphatic system or central nervous system.

Highly Treatable

Many childhood cancers are highly treatable, with overall survival rates exceeding 80% in high-income countries due to advances in treatment.

Improved in the last few decades

Treatment for childhood cancers have improved drastically in the past few decades.

Survival Rate

The survival rate for children living in Aotearoa New Zealand are comparable to countries like Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA.

Services

Child Cancer Services

For children and families who live outside of Auckland or Christchurch, some care and treatment will be provided closer to home at their local hospital. This is called ‘Shared Care’ and is a partnership between the Specialist Centre and the patient’s local hospital (Shared Care Centre). The Specialist Centre and Shared Care Centre work closely together so that as much of the treatment, as safely as possible, can be given closer to home. There are 14 shared care centres in Aotearoa.

Where we operate

Locations

Patients living in the North Island from Cape Reinga to North of Wellington are referred to the Specialist Centre at Starship Hospital, and patients from the South Island and lower North Island are referred to the Specialist Centre at Christchurch. Some patients may receive treatment at both Specialist Centres.