Being diagnosed with cancer can turn your life upside down at any age. Teenagers and Young Adults (TYA) have specific needs due to their age that can create challenges at this difficult time. The East Midlands TYA service aims to provide specialist age appropriate care and emotional, psychological and social support to young people aged 13-24 who have been diagnosed with cancer, and to their family and friends.

There are specialist units throughout the UK that 13-24 year old's can access for treatment and support throughout their cancer journey. These are called Principal Treatment Centres (PTC) and are centralised within geographical regions. There are also Designated Centres that offer treatment in local hospitals.

If you are 13-18 years old, national guidance recommends that you are best cared for in an age appropriate Teenage Cancer Trust unit at the Principal Treatment Centre (Nottingham Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham City Hospital or Leicester Royal Infirmary). If you are aged 19 to 24 you have the choice to be treated locally in a Designated Centre (where approved) or in a Principal Treatment Centre.

Wherever you are treated you will be cared for by members of staff from different areas within the hospital – this is called the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).

They can include:

• Consultants/ Junior Doctors
• Allied Health Professionals; Dietitians/ Physiotherapists/ Occupational Therapists
• Clinical Nurse Specialists
• Teenage Cancer Trust Youth Support Coordinator
• Play Specialists
• Young Lives vs Cancer Social Workers

In line with national, Department of Health guidance, cancer care is guided by multidisciplinary teams who are experts in a certain type of cancer. This is to ensure quality care and best practice. 

Your diagnosis and treatment options will be discussed at an appropriate multidisciplinary meeting to ensure that you get the correct and most up-to-date treatment for your diagnosis. 

All newly diagnosed patients between 13-24 years of age are discussed at the regional Teenage and Young Adult Multidisciplinary meeting by specialists working in age appropriate care.

Once your Nurse Specialist or Consultant has alerted the TYA team about your diagnosis, your case will be discussed at the next Teenage and Young Adult Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meeting. This meeting takes place every Friday. 

The TYA Service will offer support to you wherever you are and you will be contacted by a member of the team.

We encourage patients and families to meet health professionals at a time that fits in with school/college, work and family life as much as possible. It can be difficult to predict how long treatment may last but you can access the team at any point during and after your treatment.

You will be able to access social, educational, psychological and residential activities and support that are provided by the service. We use social media and the website to advertise these activities and any other opportunities, such as free tickets for concerts and sporting events that are donated by various charitable sources. The TYA team will also make referrals for you to other charities who support with things like hair loss, fertility and wish / grant giving organisations. 

Our Clinical Nurse Specialists and Young Lives Vs Cancer teams also have ability to help with a wide range of other issues, including referring into services to help people struggling with finances / housing - Don't hesitate to talk to them if you have any concerns.

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