Teenage and young adult cancer awareness month
Around 2,300 young people aged 15-24 are diagnosed with cancer every year. Imagine being a teenager or young adult and having to juggle the unique challenges that this time brings – on top of dealing with a cancer diagnosis and the huge impact of treatment.
Cancer is different in young people. They have very different needs to younger children and older adults facing this disease, so they need a special, tailored approach to improving cancer diagnosis, treatment, care and support. The far-reaching impact of cancer does not end when treatment ends. Quality of life and learning to live well with cancer is vital too. The impact of a cancer diagnosis can continue for many years.
We must raise awareness of the distinct challenges this age group face and make a difference for young people with cancer. That’s why we’re launching Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month this April. So young people can share their stories and be listened to. So that together we can tackle the challenges and make a change.
The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust is delighted to join the growing group of charities from across the UK that have come together for the first Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month this April.
Working together
The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust is proud to be joining like-minded organisations to raise awareness of cancer in teenagers and young adults as well as in children.
Dr Jen Kelly, CEO of the Trust said,
“A diagnosis of cancer has a huge impact, whatever the age of the person diagnosed, be they a child, teenager or a young adult. It is life-changing.
Teenagers and young adults face different challenges to those of children, and the types of cancers they have also differ. Raising awareness is the first step towards making that vital change.”
Teenage cancer awareness
Throughout April, our charities we’ll be sharing young people’s experiences of cancer, raising awareness of the unique needs of this age group, showing how we support young people and work to improve their experience through specialised services and research, and highlighting where change is urgently needed.
The charities involved are Bone Cancer Research Trust, Brain Tumour Research, Cancer Research UK, Children with Cancer UK, Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group, Dragonfly Cancer Trust, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust, The Little Princess Trust, Sarcoma UK, Solving Kids Cancer, Teenage Cancer Trust, Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer (TYAC), Teens Unite Fighting Cancer, The Tom Bowdidge Foundation, Trekstock and Young Lives vs Cancer.
Search #TYACAM to follow Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month.
