Support our #AndYoungPeople campaign
The Government must listen to the voices of young people now, or risk leaving them behind.
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What's the issue - and why now?
This is a crucial time as we come to the end of the consultation period for the Government’s National Cancer Plan for England. Now is the time to ensure that young people with cancer aren’t left behind.
Cancer is different for teenagers and young adults than it is for children and older adults – and yet they’re often overlooked.
For example, teenagers and young adults are the age group most likely to have to see a GP three times or more before they are referred.
They also often fall through the cracks when it comes to accessing potentially lifesaving clinical trials because of age restrictions, and critical mental health support is not provided equally to all.
To achieve our goal we need to make it clear that teenagers and young adults with cancer have unique and specific needs, particularly when it comes to:
- getting a faster diagnosis
- receiving mental health support
- access to clinical trials
That’s why we’re asking you to back our campaign by signing our open letter and raising awareness of the importance of saying #AndYoungPeople.
You’re in that funny age gap, between 13 and 25. It’s an age when you should be fit and healthy. No-one thinks it can happen to them.
What about Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Because healthcare is devolved, the National Cancer Plan is specific to England, but we also campaign for young people in Wales and Scotland. By adding your name to our #AndYoungPeople campaign you will also be supporting this important work.
In Scotland the focus of our campaigning is to improve mental health and psychological support provision in the country, and we have been calling on government to fulfil its promise to increase the number of funded specialist psychologists.
In Wales we are carefully monitoring the Wales Improvement Plan, to ensure that teenagers and young people are not left out of plans to improve cancer care.
And in Northern Ireland we are calling on the Government to ensure that diagnosing and treating cancer in this age group remains a priority, ensuring that teenagers and young adults are fully represented in healthcare planning and support services.
Young people are our future, so imagine being 18 years old and being told you have cancer!
How do we help young people with cancer?
Cancer can tear your teenage and young adult years apart. And without the right support, it can have a devastating impact on the rest of your life.
That’s why we’re here. Through our expert nurses, youth workers, and dedicated hospital units, we provide specialised care and support to help young people get through cancer and rebuild their lives after treatment.
We help young people hold onto their identity, independence and aspirations in the face of cancer. And we bring them together to support each other, making sure they don’t miss out on all the things that make being young special and unique.
When cancer tears your teens apart, we’ll help pick up the pieces.