Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Cancer in Teenagers and Young Adults

01 December 2020 · 4 other contributors · 12,830 words

Opened by Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

Responding minister: Not recorded

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Jim Shannon raised concerns about cancer in teenagers and young adults in Westminster Hall. Response awaited from government.

Key points

  • The lead MP is concerned that young people are often overlooked in cancer discussions.
  • He highlighted that cancer is the leading cause of disease-related deaths among teenagers and young adults.
  • The MP stressed the need for age-specific data on cancer referrals to assess the pandemic's impact on young patients' access to services.

Key requests to Government

The lead MP asks the government to improve age-specific data collection on cancer referrals, enhance public awareness campaigns about signs and symptoms specific to teenagers and young adults, and ensure better access to clinical trials for this demographic. He also urges GPs to refer young people presenting possible cancer symptoms promptly.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

The lead MP is concerned that young people are often forgotten when it comes to the conversation around cancer. He highlighted that although cancer in teenagers and young adults is rare compared to older adults, it remains the biggest killer of young people by disease. The MP emphasized the importance of having age-specific data on cancer referrals to understand the full impact of the coronavirus pandemic on access to services for young people with cancer. He also mentioned that young patients often face significant barriers in getting a swift and accurate diagnosis, sometimes requiring multiple visits before being referred.

Other contributors (4)
  • Alex Norris Lab Co-op Nottingham North

    He expressed his personal connection to cancer and the importance of fighting for fewer families to experience such loss. He emphasized the need to ensure educational outcomes for children with cancer and highlighted early diagnosis as a key issue. Alex Norris also raised concerns about the impact of the pandemic on young people facing cancer, including delayed diagnosis and access to support systems.

  • David Linden Lab East Dunbartonshire

    Paid tribute to the hon. Member for Strangford and other MPs who spoke, highlighted the APPG report on young cancer patients which found that 64% of respondents did not think enough was being done to create a positive experience for children, teenagers and young adults with cancer; recommended compulsory lessons in secondary school about spotting cancer symptoms, designated hospital parking for those with cancer, yearly meetings between the Government and young cancer patients, and free fertility treatment access for survivors. Emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, highlighted the work of CLIC Sargent and Teenage Cancer Trust.

  • Imran Ahmad Khan Lab Morden

    The MP highlighted the devastating impact of cancer on teenagers and young adults, citing statistics that seven young people aged between 13 and 24 receive a cancer diagnosis every day in the UK. He mentioned significant delays in referrals for hospital tests during the pandemic, with Cancer Research UK reporting a decrease of up to 75% in England across all age groups.

  • Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife

    Welcoming the debate, Wendy Chamberlain highlighted the work of Toby's Magical Journey in North East Fife, a charity focused on childhood and teenage cancers. She mentioned that the charity raised over £50,000 during Toby Etheridge's treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia from 2014 to 2018. Chamberlain emphasized the challenges of achieving early diagnosis for children and young people with cancer, exacerbated by the pandemic. She advocated for better awareness campaigns in September for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and urged governments to prioritize face-to-face diagnoses for these patients.

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