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.
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.
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.
Claire Bailey's daughter, Poppy, was diagnosed with stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma in July 2020 aged four. She writes on how the relationships she’s formed with other families have provided support both during and after Poppy’s treatment.
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.
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.
Caroline Cleaver is a proton beam liaison nurse at Manchester Children’s Hospital and CCLG member, whose twin sister was diagnosed with leukaemia when they were 19 years old. She tells us how this inspired her career in children’s cancer nursing and what helps her build relationships with patients and families under her care.
Dr Sarah Evans, Head of Research at CCLG, describes what patient and public involvement (PPI) involves. PPI is about researchers and those who fund research teaming up with people who have personal experience with a health condition. This collaboration helps make sure that research focuses on what really matters to the people it’s meant to help, like patients and their families.
