A vision for transforming cancer care for young people
Kate Collins, Chief Executive
At Teenage Cancer Trust, our big goal is that by 2040, young people with cancer in the UK will have the best outcomes and quality of life in the world.
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Cancer is very different when you’re a teenager or young adult. Young people develop different types of cancer to children and older adults, including some which are very rare. Diagnosis and treatment can be more complex, and there are systemic challenges, such as difficulty accessing clinical trials. And the physical, psychological, and emotional impacts of cancer can be particularly challenging for teenagers and young adults, both during and after treatment.
We’ve come a long way since Teenage Cancer Trust was first created in 1990, but it’s a journey we can’t succeed in alone. That’s why we’ve teamed up with three other leading cancer charities to launch a groundbreaking vision for transforming cancer care for young people in the UK.
This vision is the result of two years of in-depth research, supported by Dartington Service Design Lab, to understand the unique and often complex needs and experiences of young cancer patients and their families.
Along with Young Lives vs Cancer, Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group, and Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, we have identified the gaps and barriers in the current system and set out a bold and ambitious vision that aims to ensure that every child and young person with cancer gets the vital help they need and deserve.
The North Star vision
This vision is that every child and young person facing cancer receives care that’s tailored to them. They feel informed and in control, and along with their families can make knowledgeable decisions about their care and future. They feel empowered every step of the way, facing no gaps in support or barriers to access. They have everything they need from the beginning of their cancer journey, during treatment and for as long as they need it afterwards.
The findings
The research shows that there is clearly unmet need amongst young people with cancer, especially relating to their emotional and mental health needs and that this can affect them for many years post-treatment.
The findings solidify much of what we already know about young people’s experiences with cancer and provide us with essential data to drive forward change. The fact that young people who are or have been treated for cancer have higher anxiety than the population at large comes as no surprise, but we mustn’t forget how vital it is to ensure that young people have access to dedicated mental health support during and after their treatment. This is why we continue to call on UK Governments to provide dedicated funding to make sure every young person with cancer can access support from specialist psychologists.
It also comes through loud and clear that young people and their families have information needs that are not fully being met, so there is more for us to do to get our PIF-accredited expert information resources out there to every young person that receives a diagnosis.
We must continue to work together to tackle these challenges and ensure the best outcomes for young people with cancer. That’s why we’re calling on other charities and NHS colleagues to join us in turning this vision into reality. Together, we have the power to make a difference.