Lorraine Case, Youth Support Coordinator

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• Lorraine Case, Youth Support Coordinator
• Sam Smith, Nurse Consultant
• The Young Oncology Unit, The Christie Hospital,
  Manchester

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Key facts

• Cancer is the most common cause of non-accidental
  death in teenagers in the U.K.
• Six teenagers are diagnosed with cancer everyday
  in the U.K
• Improvements in survival rates are far less than
  in children/adults
• Teenagers Young Adults may face long delays in
  a cancer diagnosis.

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Reported Cancers- Find Your Sense of Tumour 2007
Total Number of patients 207
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Symptoms
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Were you aware young people got cancer?
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Patient delay and GP delay

• Patient Delay
• 78 brain tumours, 70 leukaemia patients went to
  G.P within 2 weeks
• 59 were Hodgkins Disease patients waited several
  months before going to GP
• Many young people ignore symptoms

• GP Delay - 4 or more visits
• 59 Brain tumours
• (only 11 visited once)
• 54 Hodgkins Disease
• 46 Bone tumours (only 9 visited once)
• 41 lymphoma tumours

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Main Findings

• Most young people reported going to GP within 4
  weeks
• Those that did delay ignored symptoms/ thought it
  was nothing to worry about
• Common TYA tumours reported more visits to GP
  before being referred
• Most patients are reporting multiple classic
  symptoms that are identified in TYA tumours

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Indications for Practice

• Young people do not think about cancer or
  recognise symptoms
• Classic cancer symptoms traffic light system
  for GPs
• Cancer as a first diagnosis not a last resort

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Patient Involvement - The Christie Crew
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Christie Crew

• Set up in 2004
• Recognised need for TYA PPI group
• Formal monthly meetings
• Up to 15 patients on and post treatment
• Voice of young patients

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Projects so far

• Big Brother DVD
• ID Card scheme
• New patient DVD and Pack
• Presentations at conferences
• Participation in research
• Consultation exercises
• NEW 2008 Education
• awareness

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The campaign

• Aimed at Yrs 10-11
• To be used in schools and youth services
• North West initiative at the moment
• How does it work?
• Learning package
• Poster campaign
• Led by staff (schools/youth services)
• Input from patients, NHS staff, Teenage Cancer
  Trust?

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The Campaign

• Launch night
• Invitees
• Mail outs to schools and youth services
• Continuous follow-up

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Feedback and Audit

• Facilitators questionnaire (teacher/youth worker)
• Participants questionnaire (students/young
  people)
• Collate and analyse/evaluate
• Alter content accordingly

• 135 learning/teaching packs sent out so far
• 240 posters distributedM.E.N Arena, sports
  clubs, leisure centres and other areas where
  young people visit

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Key Messages of the campaign

• Cancer is not just about older people
• Highlight main signs and symptoms
• Raise awareness of cancer in schools/youth
  services
• Empower young people with cancer knowledge
• Contribute to a more timely delay of cancer
• National roll out

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• Thank you
• Questions?