April 1st 2024.
Being a young person can be tough, especially when it comes to getting your health concerns taken seriously. It's not uncommon for teenagers and young adults aged 16-24 to be brushed off or told not to worry about their symptoms. In fact, a charity called Young Lives Vs Cancer has found that 12 children a day are diagnosed with cancer in the UK alone. Despite this alarming statistic, many young people are still being dismissed by medical professionals.
It's even more frustrating when you consider that these young patients have to go through more visits to their GP before receiving a diagnosis compared to older cancer patients. According to the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey, over two-thirds of young people with cancer had to visit their doctor more than once before being taken seriously. And nearly half of them had to see their GP three or more times before being referred to a hospital.
In light of Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month, charities like Young Lives Vs Cancer are determined to shed light on the difficulties and obstacles that young people face when battling cancer. Unfortunately, the cost of living crisis in the UK only adds to the burden for families, with the average cost of cancer treatment adding an extra £700 per month. And to make matters worse, many young people are not receiving the necessary information about financial assistance and benefits that they may be entitled to.
On top of financial struggles, young cancer patients also face emotional challenges. One in four reported that they did not receive any emotional support at home from community services. It's heartbreaking to think that these young patients are not getting the care and support they need during such a difficult time.
Abi Holly's story is a perfect example of how young people's concerns are often dismissed. Abi was only 14 years old when she noticed a lump on her hand. She went to her GP for answers and was sent to a specialist who laughed off her worries, claiming that "kids her age don't get cancer." Two years later, the lump turned out to be cancer and Abi had to undergo surgery. The whole experience took a toll on her mental health, causing her to drop out of college. Even after being declared cancer-free, Abi felt like she was left to deal with the aftermath on her own.
To support young cancer patients like Abi, The Agency is teaming up with Young Lives Vs Cancer for their 2024 Lifeline campaign. On May 18th, they will be hosting a hike along the stunning Jurassic Coast to raise funds for the charity. Participants can choose to do either a 25km or 58km hike and registration starts at just £15 with a fundraising minimum of £240 or £360. Whether you choose to do it with a group or on your own, Team Lifeline will provide all the support and guidance you need to make a difference in the lives of young cancer patients.
Ruby-Jo Sneed's experience with cancer at a young age is also a testament to the strength and resilience of these young patients. She had to juggle her Year 11 prom and GCSE exams while battling both skin cancer and a brain tumor. When she found out about her diagnosis, Ruby-Jo just wanted the disease to be "ripped" away from her body. She recalls the emotional moment with her parents, where her father cried for the first time because he felt helpless. Looking back, Ruby-Jo realizes how strong she had to be, even though she never asked for this challenging journey.
No child should have to go through the physical and emotional toll of cancer. It's time for us to take young people's health concerns seriously and provide them with the support and resources they need to fight this disease. You can make a difference by signing up for The Agency's Lifeline challenge and supporting Young Lives Vs Cancer. Every step you take can bring hope and comfort to a young cancer patient and their family.
It's a tough reality that many young people have to face - not being taken seriously when they have health concerns. It's a sad truth that those aged 16-24 often hear phrases like "kids your age don't get cancer" or "there's nothing to worry about" or "calm down" when they try to seek help for their symptoms. Despite the fact that 12 children in the UK are diagnosed with cancer every day, according to Young Lives Vs Cancer, a charity that supports young cancer patients and their families.
In addition to this, it's been found that children and young adults have to visit their GP multiple times before finally getting a diagnosis, compared to older cancer patients. The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey revealed that over two thirds of young cancer patients had to visit their doctor more than once before being referred to a hospital. And almost half of them had to see their GP three or more times before getting the necessary medical attention.
Today marks Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month, and organizations like Young Lives Vs Cancer are determined to bring attention to the difficulties and challenges that children and young adults face when dealing with cancer. As the cost of living in the UK continues to rise, it's been found that one of the biggest obstacles for families is the cost of traveling to and from hospital appointments. In fact, families dealing with cancer can face an additional expense of £700 per month on average. And to make matters worse, 15% of 16-24 year-olds said they didn't receive any information about financial assistance or benefits that they may be entitled to.
On top of all this, one in four young cancer patients reported not receiving emotional support from community services, such as district nurses, paid carers, mental health support, or physiotherapists. It's a heartbreaking reality that many young people are not receiving the support they need during such a difficult time in their lives.
One example of this is Abi Holly, who was only 14 years old when she noticed a strange lump on her hand. Worried, she went to her GP, who then referred her to a specialist. However, she was met with skepticism and told that "kids your age don't get cancer." The lump was dismissed as fatty tissue. Two years later, the lump was still there and it had grown larger. After another scan, doctors finally admitted that it was cancer and that Abi needed urgent surgery to remove it.
Looking back, Abi remembers how difficult it was to deal with her illness at such a young age. She even had to drop out of college because she couldn't keep up with her studies while also dealing with the weight of her illness. And even after being declared cancer-free, Abi was left feeling anxious and unsupported. She describes feeling like a "toy that had been dropped," with everyone telling her to just move on.
In an effort to support young cancer patients and their families, The Agency is proudly partnering with Young Lives Vs Cancer for their 2024 Lifeline campaign. The Agency is calling on their readers to join them on an epic hike along the beautiful Jurassic Coast on May 18th, with the option to choose between a 25km or 58km hike. Registration starts at just £15, with a minimum fundraising amount of £240 or £360, depending on the chosen distance. Alternatively, participants can pay for their spot and set their own fundraising goal. Whether you join in as a group or as an individual, Team Lifeline will provide you with all the support and advice you need to make a difference in the lives of young cancer patients.
Ruby-Jo Sneed is another young cancer patient who had to face the challenges of cancer while still trying to navigate her teenage years. She was diagnosed with both skin cancer and a brain tumor while juggling her Year 11 prom and GCSE exams. When speaking about her diagnosis, Ruby-Jo recalls the overwhelming feeling of wanting the disease to just be "ripped away" from her body. She also remembers her parents' reaction, with her dad crying for the first time as he felt helpless. Looking back, Ruby-Jo is amazed by her own strength and resilience during such a difficult time, but she also acknowledges that she didn't have a choice. No child should have to go through what she did.
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