Charities come together for Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month this April
This April marks the second Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month, an opportunity for charities and the young people we support to come together and raise awareness of the unique challenges facing this age group when faced with the three words that change their lives: “you have cancer”.
Around 2,400 young people aged 13-24 are diagnosed with cancer every year. Already juggling the unique challenges that this age brings, imagine then dealing with a cancer diagnosis and the huge impact of treatment.
“Only 2% of neuroblastomas are diagnosed in children over the age of 10 years and 0.5% in those over 15 years old. ”
Around 100 children in the UK are diagnosed each year with neuroblastoma, making up about 6% of the total number of childhood cancer diagnoses. It primarily affects younger children, but older children can be diagnosed too. Only 2% of neuroblastomas are diagnosed in children over the age of 10 years and 0.5% in those over 15 years old. Which can make a cancer diagnosis for this age group even more isolating.
Throughout April, the focus is on empowering young people to take control of their healthcare. We know many young people may find it difficult or embarrassing to seek medical help, before, during or after treatment, especially when you're worried about sensitive issues. And 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.
So, this Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month, is all about raising awareness around the importance of accessing healthcare and advocating for yourself to make your voice heard.
More than 20 charities have come together to raise awareness this April. We’ll be sharing how we support young people with cancer, raising awareness of the issues young people face, and most importantly supporting young people to share their experiences and ensure their voices are heard.
The charities supporting Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month 2024 are Bone Cancer Research Trust, Brain Tumour Research, Cancer Research UK, Children with Cancer UK, Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group, Dragonfly Cancer Trust, Ella Dawson Foundation, Ellen Macarthur Cancer Trust, Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust, It’s In The Bag, Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund, The Little Princess Trust, Lymphoma Action, Neuroblastoma UK, Project Youth Cancer, Sarcoma UK, Solving Kids Cancer, Teenage Cancer Trust, Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer, Teens Unite Fighting Cancer, Tom Bowdidge Foundation, Trekstock, and Young Lives vs Cancer.
