We attended the 58th Congress of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP 2026) held in San Antonio, Texas.
A global perspective to improve our day-to-day work
During these sessions, we discovered projects and care models developed in hospitals in Colombia, Argentina, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Australia, and South Africa. We were able to learn firsthand about what is being done in other countries, share experiences, and verify that all professionals are pursuing the same goal: to improve the care and well-being of patients and their families.
Our Hospital Director Lorena Díez and our Senior Psycho-oncologist Valeria Moriconi were in charge of representing Aladina at this Congress with the study “Ambivalence and emotional distress in parents of pediatric oncology patients”.
It is worth noting that this important research work is part of a larger project developed in close collaboration with the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), and is jointly authored by Valeria Moriconi, Ana García-Casillas del Riego, Juan Diego Zegrí-Quesada, and Laura Gallego-Alberto.
Understanding emotional ambivalence in families
The study, conducted with a sample of 50 caregivers of children undergoing oncological treatment, analyzes the coexistence of seemingly contradictory emotions during the illness process. It is common for a mother or father to experience deep love for their child while simultaneously dealing with feelings of exhaustion, anger, fear, or an urgent need for a break.
The results of the research show that a higher degree of emotional ambivalence is related to higher levels of anxiety and symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Although it cannot be stated that ambivalence is the direct cause of this discomfort, it is a key clinical signal that alerts us when a family needs more support. Recognizing and normalizing these emotions facilitates their expression, reduces isolation, and provides healthcare teams with tools to offer earlier, more empathetic care that is truly centered on the entire family unit.
An extraordinary outcome
It was very exciting to see the great interest that this presentation sparked and the number of questions we received from the attending professionals. We feel very proud of the excellent reception this research has had on an international level.
Ultimately, this extraordinary experience consolidates our international projection and demonstrates the commitment we have at Aladina to continue building a standard of excellence in the comprehensive care of pediatric oncology.
' width='800' height='600'/%3E%3C/svg%3E)