Find Your Sense of Tumour
Find Your Sense of Tumour is a weekend event specially for young people who’ve had cancer. It’s your chance to get advice, be inspired and enjoy a great weekend with others your age who truly get you.
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In 2022, Find Your Sense of Tumour (FYSOT) will be back in person and have an online-only option too! Be a part of an incredible annual event and help to make it even more special.
If you are aged 13-17 then join us at our event for under 18s from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 June at Whitemoor Lakes in Staffordshire.
Young people aged 13-17 can alternatively join us for our FYSOT taster day, find out more and sign up over at our taser day info page.
And if you’re over 18, come along to our jampacked weekend at Yarnfield Park, Staffordshire from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 October.
For those who can’t make it IRL, you can access digital FYSOT sessions by registering below. We’re so excited – and hope you will be too!
About the event
Find Your Sense of Tumour is your chance to have a laugh (and learn a few things!) with other people your age who’ve had cancer too. In other words they ‘get you’. No brave face needed. No filter. You might even get to know someone who’s had the same cancer as you.
Take part in activities, speak to like-minded people, watch inspirational talks and attend workshops on topics including exercise, nutrition, fertility and careers. There’s also plenty of time to relax and unwind.
Join us for a life-changing weekend!
Who can attend?
If you want to come in person to Find your Sense of Tumour Under 18s, you must:
- have been diagnosed (or still on active treatment) on or after your 13th birthday
- be aged between 13 and 17 by 19 June 2022
- have finished treatment within the last 6-24 months or be on maintenance treatment
- have received two doses of the Covid vaccine by 1 June
Can’t say yes to all of these? Don’t worry – you can still come to digital FYSOT if you can say yes to the first three on the list and you can even come if you’ve just finished treatment too – no need to wait 6 months.
There are some exemptions that will be made for young people on maintenance treatment or palliative-stage patients if your treatment team feel it will be appropriate for you to attend. Get in touch with [email protected]
Over 18? We will update the list above closer to the time for the over 18 event. Check back soon.
What does the weekend look like?
Residential Find Your Sense of Tumour
It’s a weekend event where you get your chance to have a laugh (and learn a few things!) with other people your age who’ve had cancer too. In other words they ‘get you’. No brave face needed. No filter. You might even get to know someone who’s had the same cancer as you.
Take part in activities, speak to like-minded people, watch inspirational talks and attend workshops on topics including exercise, nutrition and careers. There’s also plenty of time to relax and unwind.
Digital Find Your Sense of Tumour
This year as part of Digital FYSOT Teenage Cancer Trust are running a series of online Peer Support events, and the good news is that you can pick and choose which sessions you want to come along to!
Whether it is Among Us and Minecraft gaming sessions, creating your own Tie Dye fashion, learning how to play a musical instrument or exploring relaxation and mindfulness we have you covered. Join from the comfort of your own home and benefit from meeting other teenagers and young adults with cancer whilst taking part in fun activities. Everything is run by experienced and engaging staff from Teenage Cancer Trust and you will receive packs with everything you need for the sessions too!
To register for the Online Peer Support sessions you will have to sign up to Digital FYSOT - this will enable us to verify that you meet our criteria. You will then be able to select which individual sessions you wish to attend. Anyone who fits our criteria, including those who are attending in-person FYSOT are welcome to join the sessions – so sign up now!
Digital timetable
Past FYSOT events
How do I sign up?
If you’re 13-17, you can apply for the Under 18 event right now. Fill in the pre-registration form and we will get back to you shortly.
If you’re over 18, hang on a little longer as applications won’t open up until later in the year.
If want to know more about signing up, your treatment team should be able to help, or you can drop us a line at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Under 18s event is Friday 17 to Sunday 19 June at Whitemoor Lakes in Staffordshire.
Over 18s event is Friday 28 to Sunday 30 October at Yarnfield Park in Staffordshire.
Under 18s: you’ll be in a shared dorm room with between 3-7 people. If you’ve travelled with a group, we’ll do our best to place you all together and male and female bedrooms will be separate. All rooms are en suite and there are no stairs.
Over 18s: you’ll be in individual rooms, all of which are en suite. There are lifts to all floors.
We understand that there are a range of gender diverse young people who may access our services so please get in touch if you have any questions about sleeping arrangements.
Don’t worry. We will have a medical team from Central Medical Services on site all weekend and they can provide 24 hour medical support. If you are taking any medication, please remember to bring it with you. Medication must be in the original packaging with dispensing labels attached.
Of course – we wouldn’t want you going hungry! There will be dinner on Friday and Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. Every meal will be buffet style so you should find something you like.
Just let us know when you apply to attend and we’ll take care of it.
Please get in touch with [email protected] if you want to discuss your particular needs. Each venue has been chosen with additional needs in mind. We will work with you to make your attendance possible in any way we can – just ask!
We would suggest that you bring layered comfortable clothing for when you are in the hotel, coat and boots if you want to venture outside and something for the evenings. Bedding and towels are provided.
Other essentials to bring are toothbrush/paste, sun cream, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner as these are not provided. Please make sure you bring all the medication you require for the weekend. Medication must be in the original packaging with dispensing labels attached.
That’s entirely up to you, soft drinks and tea and coffee are provided throughout the day, however there is a Costa at the over 18s venue you may wish to buy a drink from.
Oh yes, we love a bit of fancy dress at Teenage Cancer Trust. We’ll all be slipping into our costumes for the party on Saturday night so check out this year’s theme with your Group Leader and get creative! If nothing else, it’s a good chance to laugh at how silly we all look…
If you’re going with a group from a Teenage Cancer Trust unit, you’ll travel there together with your Youth Support Coordinator or Group Leader. If you’re coming on your own, get in touch and we can help you make travel arrangements.
It’s a packed schedule, with talks from some amazing people, workshops, activities and entertainment in the evening. This usually covers topics like body image, fertility, friendships and relationships.
There are lots of activities going on all weekend, but it’s not all cancer based, so don’t worry about it being too heavy. You can sign up to the things that interest you most.
Under 18s: Whitemoor Lakes is an outdoor activity centre so we will be making some of their outdoor activities available on the Saturday afternoon if you want to join in. Alternatively, you can experience some complementary therapies, workshops, craft or just chat.
Over 18s: Yarnfield Park is a conference centre with plenty of space. It has chill out areas, complimentary therapies, loads of workshops, yoga and crafts.
No! This is your weekend, so you can do as much or as little of the activities that are available. It’s totally up to you. You can go for a walk around the amazing grounds or there is a chill out space if you fancy some quiet time. We just want everyone to get as much out of the FYSOT experience as possible.
Yes. Both venues have wifi.
Many young people come to the event not knowing anyone and leave with lifelong friendships. Please don’t worry about not knowing anyone – you will travel in a group from your region and your Youth Support Coordinator/Group Leader will help you get to know each other quickly.
Our events are strictly alcohol free and soft drinks are provided.
There are 3 reasons why this may have happened:
- There isn’t a hospital group attending in-person from your area this year
- Your hospital group is attending but you didn’t make their allocated list
- You don’t meet the criteria for in-person FYSOT
The way we currently run in-person FYSOT is that hospital staff such as your nurses and YSCs sign up as Group Leaders and take responsibility for the group of young people the bring over the weekend. This includes travelling to/from FYSOT. We are looking at ways in which we can make changes to this approach in the future to ensure more young people can attend the in-person event.
Sometimes it’s because there isn’t hospital staff available that weekend (they might be on holiday) or there isn’t someone employed in that role at the hospital at that time and we’re looking for someone to take on their job. We are looking at ways in which we can make changes to this approach in the future to ensure more young people can attend the in-person event.
Normally this is because the event is oversubscribed and unfortunately only so many young people can go from each region, each year. Your Group Leader will have a limited number of places and they often receive more sign-ups than they can accommodate. Your Group Leader will have fairly prioritised places based on the information in the application forms. Please contact them if you have any questions about this.
FAQs for parents and guardians
They will get to take part in a guided programme of activities that leave a lasting impact on their self-esteem, body image, emotion and social wellbeing. It’s a unique opportunity to surround themselves with like-minded young people who understand what they are going through and an event we’re sure your child will benefit from as they can choose the activities and sessions that are most relevant and helpful to them.
Don’t worry. We will have a medical team from Central Medical Services on site all weekend and they can provide 24 hour medical support. If your child is taking any medication, please remind them to bring it with them. Medication must be in the original packaging with dispensing labels attached.
Staff will be aware of your child’s psychological needs in advance and are trained to spot signs where a young person may need help.