This week’s (Tuesday 26th June) BBC2’s Horizon documentary Teenagers vs Cancer: A User's Guide, featured 11 remarkable young people who beautifully illustrated why teenagers and young adults need different, specialist and expert support when they face cancer. Viewers were introduced to bespoke ward facilities, specialist nursing and social worker support tailored to the age group, and funded by charities including Teenage Cancer Trust.
As the only UK charity purely focussed on the treatment, care and support of 13-24 year olds with cancer, we are determined the needs of young people with cancer should not be ignored. Teenage Cancer Trust estimate that we currently only reach about half of the young people diagnosed with cancer in the UK every year with our services, specifically tailored to meet the needs of young people.
Horizon has helped ensure teenagers and young people are heard and for this we are enormously grateful to everyone involved in making the programme happen. However, it is important that those watching last night realise that the job’s far from done. We are calling on the NHS to work in partnership with us, to ensure that every young person diagnosed with cancer in the UK has a Teenage Cancer Trust specialist nurse to provide expert age appropriate care, wherever they choose to be treated.
Kate Collins, Chief Executive at Teenage Cancer Trust
