Find your sense of tumour

Each year Teenage Cancer Trust holds a conference with a difference.

Each year, over 350 young people from across the country and even Europe, are invited to attend a four-day conference, solely for young people who have, or have had cancer. This is open to everybody - whether or not they have been treated on a Teenage Cancer Trust unit.

For many of these young people, Find Your Sense of Tumour, is their first chance to meet and share their experiences with other people their own age who know what it’s like to be diagnosed with cancer.

Find Your Sense of Tumuor is packed full of activities, giving young people the opportunity to:

Socialise with other teenagers who have had cancer
Get involved with activities such as relaxing therapies, yoga, make-overs and music workshops
Have fun with evening entertainment provided by DJs and bands and even some of the teenagers themselves

An update from 2010

Nearly 400 young people who have or have had cancer came together on the weekend of the 13-15 March. In its sixth conference, ‘Find Your Sense of Tumour’ was also attended by some of the world’s leading cancer specialists, including Professor Sir Mike Richards CBE, the UK’s first National Clinical Director for Cancer and End of Life Care and Dr Allan Pacey, who spoke about fertility after cancer and Professor John Spinetta from America who discussed about coping with loss.

During the conference the young guests expressed concern about delays in diagnosis. In a survey done at the conference almost a quarter of participants who have had or currently have cancer visited their GP at least four times before being referred to a specialist. Nearly a fifth said their GP did not refer them.

As well as the formal programme, the conference provides a weekend escape and some much needed light relief. The young guests have the chance to socialise and take part in complementary therapies like yoga and reflexology as well as enjoy evening DJ’s and dance performances.