News
Shay and Lomana Visit Hospital
MacMILLAN'S Tyneside Appeal Patron, Shay Given, together with team-mate Lomana LuaLua visited the specialist teenage cancer unit and Ward 16 children's cancer ward at the RVI last Thursday
Ward sister Sandra Lecore (pictured) said: "Everyone on the ward had a fantastic boost by this visit. It has been wonderful to see the excitement and this has been a welcome diversion from our normal hospital routine."
Janet Richardson, Macmillan Cancer Relief Appeal Co-ordinator added "We are absolutely delighted that Shay has offered Macmillan Cancer Relief his support as Patron and that he and Lomana were able to help us last Thursday. Having Shay and Newcastle United on board will give such a boost to The Tyneside Appeal and enable us to really increase awareness of what Macmillan does."
And Shay commented: "I am delighted to be able to help out Macmillan Cancer Relief as their Patron and very pleased that Lomana and I were able to put a smile on the children's faces last week. It is a cause I am very committed to and I hope to assist in the money raising campaign as much as I can"
Being diagnosed with cancer at any age is a terrible blow but being a teenager living with cancer brings its own particular problems.
Around 700 teenagers and young people are newly diagnosed with cancer each year. At an age when you are just starting to gain some independence from your parents you suddenly have to become very reliant on them again and perhaps deal with their fears as well as your own.
Being in hospital for treatment or perhaps surgery disrupts your school life, perhaps at a time when you have important examinations and you can easily feel isolated from your friends and your social life.
At a time when body image is all important, losing your hair through chemotherapy, or perhaps having surgery to remove a tumour can seem devastating and the thoughtless comments of other people can be very difficult to deal with.
The outlook for many teenagers diagnosed with cancer is improving year by year. Around 70% of all children and teenagers will survive for at least ten years after they are diagnosed and many will go on to live long and healthy lives.
Macmillan knows that with support and care geared to their particular, individual needs, most teenagers do cope amazingly well with living with cancer.
We are very lucky here in Newcastle to have Macmillan funded specialist nurses within the teenage cancer unit, who have the skills and experience to support this age group. Macmillan also provided money for accommodation within the teenage cancer unit for day treatments, so that teenagers do not have to spend any longer in hospital than necessary.
At Macmillan we are helping to raise awareness of cancer in schools and have developed a schools programme called "Cancer Talk" aimed at supporting teachers who want to discuss cancer topics in schools. There is also a dedicated Macmillan website aimed at young people: www.whybother.ork.uk
If you would like to know more about how you can help to raise money for those living with cancer here on Tyneside please contact Janet Richardson on 0191 2261544 or e-mail jrichardson@macmillan.org.uk
Ward sister Sandra Lecore (pictured) said: "Everyone on the ward had a fantastic boost by this visit. It has been wonderful to see the excitement and this has been a welcome diversion from our normal hospital routine."
Janet Richardson, Macmillan Cancer Relief Appeal Co-ordinator added "We are absolutely delighted that Shay has offered Macmillan Cancer Relief his support as Patron and that he and Lomana were able to help us last Thursday. Having Shay and Newcastle United on board will give such a boost to The Tyneside Appeal and enable us to really increase awareness of what Macmillan does."
And Shay commented: "I am delighted to be able to help out Macmillan Cancer Relief as their Patron and very pleased that Lomana and I were able to put a smile on the children's faces last week. It is a cause I am very committed to and I hope to assist in the money raising campaign as much as I can"
Being diagnosed with cancer at any age is a terrible blow but being a teenager living with cancer brings its own particular problems.
Around 700 teenagers and young people are newly diagnosed with cancer each year. At an age when you are just starting to gain some independence from your parents you suddenly have to become very reliant on them again and perhaps deal with their fears as well as your own.
Being in hospital for treatment or perhaps surgery disrupts your school life, perhaps at a time when you have important examinations and you can easily feel isolated from your friends and your social life.
At a time when body image is all important, losing your hair through chemotherapy, or perhaps having surgery to remove a tumour can seem devastating and the thoughtless comments of other people can be very difficult to deal with.
The outlook for many teenagers diagnosed with cancer is improving year by year. Around 70% of all children and teenagers will survive for at least ten years after they are diagnosed and many will go on to live long and healthy lives.
Macmillan knows that with support and care geared to their particular, individual needs, most teenagers do cope amazingly well with living with cancer.
We are very lucky here in Newcastle to have Macmillan funded specialist nurses within the teenage cancer unit, who have the skills and experience to support this age group. Macmillan also provided money for accommodation within the teenage cancer unit for day treatments, so that teenagers do not have to spend any longer in hospital than necessary.
At Macmillan we are helping to raise awareness of cancer in schools and have developed a schools programme called "Cancer Talk" aimed at supporting teachers who want to discuss cancer topics in schools. There is also a dedicated Macmillan website aimed at young people: www.whybother.ork.uk
If you would like to know more about how you can help to raise money for those living with cancer here on Tyneside please contact Janet Richardson on 0191 2261544 or e-mail jrichardson@macmillan.org.uk
