Charities come together to launch Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month this April
16th March 2023
Friendships. Relationships. Exams. Parties. Hormones. Travel? University? Kids? Being a teenager or young adult can be difficult, but should also be super exciting. There are so many important decisions, that first sweet smell of freedom. Independence.
Then you hear the three words you least expected: “you have cancer”, and all those plans, hopes and dreams threaten to come crashing down.
Each year, around 2,300 young people aged 15-24 are diagnosed with cancer. Imagine being a teenager or young adult and having to juggle the unique challenges that this time brings – on top of dealing with a cancer diagnosis and the huge impact of treatment.
Cancer is different in young people. They have very different needs to younger children and older adults facing this disease, so they need a special, tailored approach to improving cancer diagnosis, treatment, care and support.
The far-reaching impact of cancer does not end when treatment ends. Quality of life and learning to live well with cancer is vital too. The impact of a cancer diagnosis can continue for many years.
We must raise awareness of the distinct challenges this age group face and make a difference for young people with cancer. That’s why we’re launching Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month this April.
So young people can share their stories and be listened to. So that together we can tackle the challenges and make a change.
Ashley Ball-Gamble, CEO of TYAC and CCLG, said:
"We want to make every April a month where we can raise awareness of the specific challenges young cancer patients face, to ensure that their voices are heard and that support for them evolves as it should do.
It’s vital they are given the opportunity to share their stories and be listened to, so that we can understand their needs, find answers to problems and begin to make a real change for this age group
We are proud to be working with our partner charities on TYA Cancer Awareness Month, and between us we provide a wide range of vital services and support for young cancer patients.
Our focus at CCLG and TYAC is on improving diagnosis so that patients start treatment quicker, and on highlighting the need for specific, tailored research for this age group that meets their needs and aims to not only improve treatments, but the overall experience of cancer."
Cancer charities from across the UK have come together for the first Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout April, we’ll be sharing young people’s experiences of cancer, raising awareness of the unique needs of this age group, showing how we support young people and work to improve their experience through specialised services and research, and highlighting where change is urgently needed.
The charities involved are Bone Cancer Research Trust, Brain Tumour Research, Cancer Research UK, Children with Cancer UK, Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group, Dragonfly Cancer Trust, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, The Little Princess Trust, Sarcoma UK, Solving Kids Cancer, Teenage Cancer Trust, Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer (TYAC), Teens Unite Fighting Cancer, The Tom Bowdidge Foundation, Trekstock and Young Lives vs Cancer.
Search #TYACAM to follow Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month and find out how the charities are raising awareness and how you can get involved this April.