April is Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month

This April (2024) 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.

This year, we’re focusing 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, we’re raising awareness around the importance of accessing healthcare and advocating for yourself to make your voice heard.

Shaumya Kularajan, TYACAM Steering Group patient representative said:

I’m really excited about this year’s TYACAM following the success of its launch last year. It’s so important to have an awareness month focused on teenagers and young adults because we face a unique set of challenges on top of the weight of a cancer diagnosis. I hope that TYACAM will encourage us to have more conversations to learn from each other and raise awareness in the public.

It is crucial for young people to feel empowered in healthcare settings, so that they feel able to advocate for themselves and their needs. Shared decision making helps young people to feel more in control, and taking time to learn about and understand a young person’s priorities can enable us to focus on what matters to them.

Amar Naher, CEO at Children with Cancer UK said:

We are committed to providing a voice for young people affected by childhood cancer at every stage of their journey. Working alongside other brilliant organisations in support of Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month places a much-needed spotlight on the discussion of moving from paediatric to adult cancer care and provides the platform to amplify these voices.

The cancer journey does not end with remission and this month is about raising awareness of how these incredible individuals navigate their new circumstances with resilience and courage. As part of this, our newly launched interview series, Real Stories, features Leah, 23, who reflects on her diagnosis at 11 years old and the long-term side effects of her treatment that still impact her life. We hope in sharing Leah’s story that similarly effected young people will be encouraged to share their experiences and know that we are all behind them, every step of the way.

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.

Search #TYACAM to follow Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month and find out how the charities are raising awareness and how you can get involved this April.