Article written for the Youth Cancer Trust by Thomas Green
Cancer is an illness that for many young people affects them long after they have had their final treatment. The consequences of having cancer may last a lifetime.
As well as long-term physical problems, there are more subtle psycho-social problems to contend with. By its very nature cancer in young people comes at a frontier. That frontier is between being a youngster and an adult. During adolescence a great deal of learning takes place. During this stage people learn about themselves, other people, social norms and how to relate to the world. Cancer is a block to the acquisition of that knowledge. It is very important then, to have a place in the form of the YCT where people so affected can come together. It is a place where young people can relate to one another and feel easier about themselves. To be amongst like-people is a very special thing. There is an opportunity to learn from one another.
Arguably the prime purpose of the YCT is to have fun. Superficially this may seem like a fairly frivolous idea. However, there is a serious side to fun. Cancer is a disease that strips away confidence and self-worth. Taking part in activities helps to restore these things. Whether it be horse riding, karting or one of the many activities offered it provides a real boost. They are activities that most people will not be able to access in their daily lives. So taking part in them is even more extraordinary event. I certainly felt amazing after getting behind the wheel of a kart.
Hope is the over-arching theme of the YCT. Young people go there and are provided with a certainty that things will be better in the future. Tracey-Ann House is a physical sign of hope. The YCT through its dedicated staff reiterate this hope over and over again.
For me letters YCT stand for, ‘You Can Triumph’. This is a message that all young people need to hear even when they are thirty.
