"Great against Cancer Family Homes" for Children

Greater Than Cancer: Supporting Children with Cancer and Their Families

How can we improve the quality of life of children and adolescents with cancer, and of the people who care for them, by going beyond medical treatment alone? This is the question at the heart of Greater Than Cancer: Quality of Life and Psychological Wellbeing for Children with Cancer and Their Caregivers from Northern to Southern Italy, a project promoted by Soleterre and funded by the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies through the fund for assistance to children affected by oncological disease.

After more than one year of implementation, the project has already reached more than 600 people across Pavia and Taranto, two very different contexts united by the same need: ensuring continuous support for children with cancer and their families. In the second semester alone, 243 patients received psycho-oncological support, compared to 154 in the first semester, while 352 family members benefited from the project’s services.

The results also show the growing importance of support for adolescents, along with strengthened psycho-educational activities for children, young people, and caregivers. At the same time, the project expanded its social support and rights-orientation services, helping identify situations of economic vulnerability and reducing the risk of health-related poverty.

These outcomes confirm the value of an integrated model that combines psycho-oncology, educational activities, social accompaniment, and economic support. Built through collaboration between healthcare facilities, universities, third-sector organizations, and local communities, the project aims to offer continuity of care both inside and outside the hospital, and to become a replicable model for supporting children with cancer and their families in Italy.