Teenage and young adults (TYA) cancer service
About us
Welcome to the teenage and young adults (TYA) cancer service. We look after people aged from 13 to their 25th birthday, with a wide range of cancers and some non-cancerous conditions. In these pages, we hope to provide you with some useful information, so you know what to expect.
Staff who will be looking after you
You will be cared for by a team of healthcare professionals specialising in helping young people like you through their cancer treatment. You will hear us call this team the multidisciplinary team (MDT) because it includes experts in different areas of medicine, such as doctors and nurses.
Your first point of contact will be your key worker. This usually is a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) trained and experienced in treating young people with your type of cancer. Your key worker will also coordinate your care and support you and your family at every step of the way.
Team members
The TYA Lead Nurse:
Works locally, nationally and internationally to develop and improve the services provided for Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer. An expert practitioner in many aspects of TYA cancer care she leads the TYA Service and the development of TYA care in LTHT.
TYA Clinical Nurse Specialists:
Provide information, advice and support to all young patients and their families. This is from diagnosis, throughout treatment and beyond. They will generally take on the Key Worker Role, co-ordinating care, treatment, appointments and admissions, providing a close link between hospital and home. They are experts in the needs of Young People with cancer and have expert knowledge of all cancer treatments and their side-effects. They will guide and support the TYA and their family through the cancer journey helping them to voice their choices and make decisions with the medical team.
Young Lives Vs Cancer Social Workers:
Provide emotional and psychological support as well as advice on practical, employment and financial issues. They have access to specific grants to help with expenses such as travel, and other general costs associated with having treatment.
The Clinical Psychologist:
Provides further Level 4 Psychological support for patients and families when needed, both during and after cancer treatment.
Youth Support Coordinators:
Provides individual and group support, through various activities, for patients aged 13-24 yrs old. They provide opportunities to get involved in activities, workshops and projects, both inside and outside the hospital. In addition, they organise social events offering the opportunity to meet other young people who have or had cancer to share information and experiences and therefore providing support to one another.
Treatment
Cancer is treated in lots of different ways, you could have chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or sometimes a combination of them all but whatever treatment you have its important you have the opportunity to discuss this with your treating team and that you understand your options and have time to have your questions answered. Your TYA CNS can support you at your appointments and discuss any questions you might have following your consultation.
The doctors treating you and your TYA CNS will have an in depth discussion with you about the possible side affects you may have on treatment before you begin but you can always discuss these at a later date again as it is often overwhelming in your first appointment and difficult to remember everything.
It is likely you will experience some side effects from whichever treatment you have, but it’s important to remember that everyone will react differently to treatment, so don’t worry if you think you have side effects you were not expecting, just make sure you always discuss this with your treating team as there are often medications or treatments that can be given to reduce side effects. There is plenty of information and support you can access from your treating team, but you can also find lots of information about treatment here.
Contact us
Teenage Cancer Trust Lead Nurse: Liz Purnell – 014 339215/ 07780339215 TYA Clinical Nurse Specialist: Robyn Hedge - 0114 339215/ 07810 182669 Teenage Cancer Trust Clinical Nurse Specialist: Hannah Richardson-Wood - 0114 2265360/ 07356127724
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TCT Youth Support Coordinators: Caroline Wiltshire - 07852 447029 Jemma Midgley - 07467 015093 Young Lives V Cancer Social Workers: Beth Harrison - 07920 108 508 Tracy Connolly - 07795470172 Emily Taylor - 07775 695574 TYA MDT Co-ordinator Tricia Wyer - 0114 2265360/ 07356 127726 |