Paralympian wants better cancer care for young people

Paralympic rowing champion Erin Kennedy said more young people with cancer should be given better wraparound care following their diagnosis.

Kennedy, 32, was diagnosed in May 2022, had chemotherapy in December 2022, a double mastectomy and reconstruction in January 2023 and was later given the all-clear.

The 29-year-old cox, who lives in Henley and is a member of the town's Leander Club, was BBC Radio Berkshire's breakfast guest editor on Thursday.

She said she was grateful to be treated at a specialist unit for young people at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford.

But others are not so lucky because most units stop treating young people at 24 and cannot benefit from their expert staff, like social workers.

"There are lots of considerations [for young people with cancer]. Back in 1990, the mean age for buying a first house was in your 20s. Now it's significantly later. That brings with it instability financially," Kennedy said.

"You're less likely to be married when you're getting these diagnoses so that means less household income coming in and often you're put straight onto sick pay. And that's not great.

"The cost of cancer is quite great and it's all this wraparound care that can support you."

About 250 people under 30 get diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year.

"I was really fortunate to be in that really small minority who had really specialised care in that 25 to 30 category," Kennedy added.

"I would love to see that care gap being closed over the next few years."

Louise Soanes, the Teenage Cancer Trust's chief nurse, said: "We have got amazing, specialist nurses and specialist units that ensure that young adults don't fall off a cliff edge around treatment and support them in other areas of care."

The charity has 28 specialist cancer units at hospitals in the UK and funds 92 nurses and youth support coordinators.

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