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Constipation is a common symptom in children receiving palliative care.

April is Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month (TYACAM) – an opportunity for charities and the young people we support to come together and raise awareness of the unique set of challenges facing this age group after being told they have cancer.

Ellie Philpotts was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2011 aged 15. She explains how she found support from other young people with cancer and how, through awareness raising, writing and advocacy work, she’s hoping to help those who are newly diagnosed.

Lisa Radcliffe’s son, George, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma when he was three years old and sadly died when he was four. Here, she explains how she and her husband, David, quickly found their own approach to communicating with George during his treatment, and how this helped them.

Multidisciplinary team (MDT) working is essential in children’s cancer care. Dr Ren Manias, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist at Southampton General Hospital and Contact’s medical adviser, explains how effective communication and shared decision making improve survival rates, enhance quality of life, and support children and their families during their cancer journey.

Becky Rodgers is a health play specialist at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. She tells us about her role in supporting children and young people (CYP) and their families during treatment, helping them to process information and express their thoughts and feelings.

Kate Hibberd’s daughter, Meredith, was diagnosed with b-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma in 2023 aged four. She tells us about how her family has navigated keeping people updated about Meredith's treatment, the importance of asking for support, and how connecting with other families of children with cancer helped them.

Yami Moloteni was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in July 2021 aged 18. She explains the importance of good communication in teenage cancer care, what it looks like, and how having someone to talk to can have a huge impact on young people with cancer.

Dr Liz Jestico is a senior lecturer in Children’s Nursing at Oxford Brookes University and researcher at the University of Bristol. Here, she tells us about a study she conducted where she talked to parents of children with cancer about how people in their social networks had supported them to make decisions.

Mandy Berriman's son, Peter, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in January 2019 when he was eight years old. She tells us how using social media to find information and connect with other families both helped her and presented challenges during Peter’s treatment.