Teenagers and young adults facing a cancer diagnosis have different needs to adults and are at a vulnerable stage in their life. The stress of ill health, the physical changes cancer may bring – hair loss, amputation and fertility issues are often more poignant. Unfortunately, hospital budgets are stretched and without charitable support the unique needs of this patient population will not be appropriately addressed within the region and will require the need for long distance travel.

Medical charity Cobalt has been raising funds towards a Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) Cancer Nurse, since 2011 who looks after patients in the the counties Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. The TYA nurse ensures that young patients receive the most appropriate and supportive care available locally. The TYA nurse is apart of the TYA Network which aims to improve the rates of diagnosis at an earlier stage (National ACE programme) and patient access to clinical trails.