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Teenage Cancer Trust
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Teenage Cancer Trust is a charity devoted to improving the lives of teenagers and young adults with cancer. TCT achieves its goals through a number of initiatives, all dependent on private fundraising efforts that range from high profile concerts and sponsored treks to local community events and personal charitable giving.
Every day in the UK, up to 6 teenagers or young adults (between the ages of 13 and 24) will find out they have cancer that is approximately 2,100 new cases a year. These young people, in the midst of their already difficult journey to adulthood, suddenly find themselves faced with a possible life-threatening illness and very often receiving treatment in inappropriate facilities with inadequate support options. Until the age of 16 a teenager is likely to be treated in a paediatric ward alongside toddlers. If the same teen was diagnosed after turning 16 then they are likely to end up in an adult ward with elderly patients. Many must put life on hold, just as it is starting to take off.
Cancer is more common than you think
In either case the young person is being treated alongside people they can't fully relate to, and is outside the specialty of their doctors, nurses and hospital staff. Cancer in teenagers and young adults has a distinctive pattern and is different from that of children and older adults. It is important for their physical health and psychological well-being, that they be treated in a specialist facility that is built to meet their needs, and it is critical for their emotional well-being that they are treated in a comfortable environment where they have the opportunity to meet other people their age who understand what they are going through.
Young adults contract some of the most aggressive cancers, which can be made worse by their growth spurts. Yet because only 0.5% of all cancers occur in teenagers and young adults, they are often misdiagnosed initially-- decreasing their chances of survival, and excluding them from clinical trials.
Even after finishing treatment, teens can struggle with personal and professional issues that are inadequately addressed.
Even after finishing treatment, teens can struggle with personal and professional issues that are inadequately addressed. There is a lack of ongoing support from the NHS and other services once treatment is finished and there can be difficulty pursuing a chosen career because they are considered a health risk. Insurers or pension schemes can be reluctant to provide cover, and ex-patients often find it a struggle to get a mortgage-the list goes on and on. Teenagers need support beyond treatment, and general awareness of the issues they face, to help them move forward.
Cancer is the most common cause of death at this age and is the most common cause of non-accidental death at this age. Incidence rates are now higher in teenagers and young adults than in children, yet survival rates fall behind those of children and older adults. Teenage Cancer Trust exists to ensure that teenagers and young adults are diagnosed efficiently, treated effectively, and have the support they need to make it through their treatment and rebuild their lives after cancer.