Today (April 1) marks the first day of Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month
(TYACAM) – an opportunity for charities and the young people we support to come together and
raise awareness.
Around 2,300 young people aged 15-24 are diagnosed with cancer each year and have to face
the huge impact of its treatment, while already juggling the unique challenges that this agegroup faces.
This year marks the fourth year of TYACAM, with 22 charities joining forces to raise awareness of
the signs and symptoms of cancer in teenagers and young adults (TYA) and the issues they face.
We’ll also be sharing how we, as individual organisations and as a collective, support young
people with cancer.
Importantly, TYACAM represents an opportunity to support young people to share their
experiences and ensure their voices are heard.
Abby Maxwell, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma aged 22 in 2023, said: “I
believe that giving young people with cancer a voice is important to empowering us and in
helping expand knowledge and understanding of the differences in our journeys compared to
those who are older.
“It will also, hopefully, educate GPs to reduce the delays in diagnosis and educate healthcare
professionals about the different needs we have.”
Ashley Ball-Gamble, Chief Executive at CCLG: The Children & Young People’s Cancer
Association and Chair of the Children and Young People’s Cancer Coalition, said: “As Teenage
and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month continues to grow, it allows us to further raise
awareness of the unique issues young people face when diagnosed with cancer.
“In April, we want to give young people with cancer the opportunity to share their experiences
and be assured that they are being heard – and to know that together, we are all working toward
a better future.
“By giving them a platform to share their experiences and insight, charities, healthcare
professionals, policy makers and the general public can all learn from what they have to say.
“Giving young people a voice and making sure they’re heard before, during and after treatment
is vital to ensuring they receive the care and support that they not only need but deserve.”
The charities supporting Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month 2026 are CCLG:
CCLG: The Children’s & Young People’s Cancer Association, Bone Cancer Research Trust, Cancer Research UK, Candlelighters, Children with Cancer UK, Dragonfly Cancer Trust, Ella Dawson Foundation, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust, It’s In The Bag, Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund, The Little Princess Trust, Lymphoma Action, Project Youth Cancer, Sarcoma UK, Solving Kids Cancer, Team Jak Foundation, Teenager Cancer Trust, Teens Unite Fighting Cancer, The Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation, Trekstock Cancer Support and Young Lives vs Cancer.
Search #TYACAM to follow Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month and find out how the charities are raising awareness and how you can get involved this April.
