The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust (EMCT) takes young people aged eight to 24 years old on free sailing and outdoor adventures to help rebuild their confidence after cancer. Scott Wilson, of the Trust’s communications team, and Rebecca and Simran, two of the young people it’s supported, describe how the trips help bring people with similar experiences together and why that’s important.
Kelly Scott was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma when she was a teenager in 2001. Now working for Teenage Cancer Trust, she explains how this affected her relationships with her peers and how some simple acts of kindness helped support her.
Sophie Hartley was eight years old when diagnosed with bone cancer in 2005. Now 27, she explains how this affected the relationship she has with herself.
Following a childhood cancer diagnosis, parents may find relationships with those around them change, while they may also develop a number of new relationships during their child’s treatment. Here, Dr Amandeep Samrai, Consultant Clinical Psychologist in Paediatric Oncology at Nottingham Children’s Hospital, talks about how relationships can be both helpful and challenging during childhood cancer treatment.
Penelope Hart-Spencer is a Health Play Specialist at the Proton Beam Therapy Centre at the Christie in Manchester and a member of the CCLG. In this role, she supports children undergoing cancer treatment who require CT/MRI scans, radiotherapy and proton beam therapy treatments, as well as other clinical procedures.
Teens Unite Fighting Cancer brings together teenagers and young adults living with cancer and its lasting effects. Its CEO, Roxanne Lawrance, explains how surrounding yourself with others in a similar situation can often be helpful during cancer and in the years that follow, and how Teens Unite helps young people do this.
Skin cancer (melanoma) in teenagers and young adults (TYA) is on the increase and evidence from young people and their families suggest that they feel isolated, alone and unsupported.
Kay Lewis’ daughter, Maisy, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma in both eyes when she was nine months old. Kay explains what helped them after treatment, and how Maisy continues to inspire her.
Charlotte Hillyard’s daughter, Jess, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May 2023 aged three. Knowing the importance of peer-to-peer support, Charlotte and her husband, Lee, set up Walking Warriors Essex earlier this year to bring together families of children with cancer to share their feelings and experiences.
