Today (April 1) marks the first day of Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month (TYACAM) – an opportunity for charities and the young people we support to come together and raise awareness.
Around 2,300 young people aged 15-24 are diagnosed with cancer each year and have to face the huge impact of its treatment, while already juggling the unique challenges that this age-group faces.
This year marks the fourth year of TYACAM, with 22 charities joining forces to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer in teenagers and young adults (TYA) and the issues they face. We’ll also be sharing how we, as individual organisations and as a collective, support young people with cancer.
Importantly, TYACAM represents an opportunity to support young people to share their experiences and ensure their voices are heard.
Abby Maxwell, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma aged 22 in 2023, said:
“I believe that giving young people with cancer a voice is important to empowering us and in helping expand knowledge and understanding of the differences in our journeys compared to those who are older.
“It will also, hopefully, educate GPs to reduce the delays in diagnosis and educate healthcare professionals about the different needs we have.”
Jen Kelly, CEO at the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust said:
: “Being a teenager with cancer is incredibly challenging, and Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month gives us an important opportunity to raise awareness of those unique experiences. It enables young people to share their stories, helping us all better understand what truly matters to them. It helps healthcare professionals, policymakers and all those reading gain vital insight into the support young people need. It is essential as we work together to improve care and outcomes for every young person facing cancer.”
The charities supporting Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month 2026 are CCLG:
The Children’s & Young People’s Cancer Association, Bone Cancer Research Trust, Cancer Research UK, Candlelighters, Children with Cancer UK, Dragonfly Cancer Trust, Ella Dawson Foundation, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, Grace Kelly Cancer Trust, It’s in the Bag, Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund, Lymphoma Action, Project Youth Cancer, Sarcoma UK, Solving Kids Cancer, Team Jak Foundation, Teenage Cancer Trust, Teens Unite Fighting Cancer, the Little Princess Trust, the Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation, Trekstock Cancer Support 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.
