More Than My Illness

Meeting the needs of young adults with cancer

CLIC Sargent is leading a major piece of work to improve the care and support that is delivered to young adults with cancer (aged up to 24), and their families, outside of hospital. This includes clinical care delivered in the community, as well as non clinical support such as emotional, financial and practical support.

We have consulted widely with young adults and their families. What they told us will directly inform the recommendations that we make. CLIC Sargent is working with experts from across the country to develop these recommendations and we will present them to the Department of Health and other important groups across the UK later this year.

Why is this important?

In local communities, there is a lot of variation in the kinds of support available to young people with cancer and their families. Often, the support available depends on where you live and how old you are. CLIC Sargent would like to see everyone to have equal access to the same standard of high quality care.

More Than My Illness aims to support the full implementation of the NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) Guidance Improving Outcomes for Children and Young People with Cancer.

Meeting the needs of children and young people with cancer

In 2008, CLIC Sargent asked children and young people with cancer, and their families, what they needed when not in hospital. We also looked at previous consultations and worked closely with many professionals such as nurses, doctors, social workers and teachers.

As a result of this work, CLIC Sargent wrote a report that recommends how best to provide care and support to children and young people with cancer (aged between 0 and 18 years), and their families, to help them spend more time at home and achieve in all areas of life. CLIC Sargent presented the report to the Department of Health at the end of last year. We hope to work with various groups throughout 2009 to implement some of the recommendations. You can download the final report, executive summary and summary of consultation below.