SPOG

The Swiss Paediatric Oncology Group SPOG is a non-profit organisation which, through patient-oriented cancer research, is committed to achieving better treatment options and a higher quality of life for children and adolescents suffering from cancer. Download: SPOG MISSION STATEMENT (PDF) Who are we? SPOG is an organisation which is active throughout Switzerland and has international connections. Our members are Swiss clinics caring for children and adolescents with cancer and blood diseases. These are the specialist departments from all five university hospitals as well as four paediatric and cantonal hospitals. In addition, SPOG gave rise to the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry and the SPOG’s own Tumour Bank. What do we want? We want to ensure the best possible treatment for children and adolescents with cancer and blood diseases in Switzerland. The best available scientific knowledge is acquired and applied through cooperation between clinics treating these patients. To this end, we bring on board all the specialist disciplines involved and foster an exchange of scientific information with similar cooperative groups in other European countries and the USA. What do we stand for? Fortunately, many cancers and blood diseases in childhood and adolescence can be successfully treated nowadays. However, this is still far from being the case with all diseases. Furthermore, sick children and adolescents have very specific needs. Their young age as well as the relative rarity and certain biological characteristics of these diseases make it a particular concern for SPOG that these aspects are taken seriously and researched as priority issues. Who are we there for? In our work we are committed to sick children and adolescents as well as their families. Their welfare is the primary guiding principle of our actions. We foster partnerships with other organisations which address different concerns and needs of our patients and hence play a key role in their holistic care. In our cooperation with the regulatory authorities, we ensure transparency of information and adherence to the relevant guidelines. What do we do? We treat and care for children and adolescents with cancer and blood diseases in line with the latest medical knowledge. Our aim is to enable each of these children and adolescents to receive the most effective treatment and enjoy as high a quality of life as possible in the short and long term. We achieve this through quality-controlled treatment studies and continuous consultation within SPOG but also with international groups of experts. The systematic recording and analysis of data via the Childhood Cancer Registry also allows issues of prevention and long-term effects of treatment to be resolved. We improve our knowledge of the specific characteristics of cancer in children and adolescents by collecting tumour samples in the organisation’s own Tumour Bank and performing tests on those samples. How do we work together, how do we communicate? We live a culture of mutual respect and trust. In the interests of children affected by cancer and blood diseases, we work closely with members of all specialist disciplines, whose dedication is vital to the comprehensive care of patients. We are committed to achieving our goals for the benefit of sick children and adolescents and are grateful to all those who help us along this path in whatever way they can. In our internal and external communications we place emphasis on transparency, openness and cooperativeness. Through lively exchange among our members, we ensure that our identity is actively imparted to all those involved, both within and outside the organisation. Wherever necessary and possible, we take a stance on the needs of children and adolescents affected by cancer and blood diseases as well as their families.