Frome teenager shares her story in Hand2Hold campaign

TEENAGE Cancer Trust and CLIC Sargent have launched the #Hand2Hold campaign, and have received help from Frome’s Mikaela  Forrester, who has undergone treatment. 

The cancer charities are calling on the Government to ensure all young people are allowed to have someone there with them during cancer treatment and diagnosis. 

Mikaela had to go through chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant on her own, as her mother wasn’t allowed to be with her during the appointments. Mikaela is joining Teenage Cancer Trust and CLIC Sargent as they urge the Government to ensure all young people have a ‘Hand2Hold’ during treatment and beyond. 

Young people with cancer, like Mikaela, are having to attend cancer treatment and appointments alone due to the coronavirus pandemic, two leading cancer charities have found. Mikaela is among the many young people across the UK who have come forward to share what it is like to face cancer without a hand to hold. 

Teenage Cancer Trust and CLIC Sargent are supporting young people (16-25 years old) like Mikaela across the UK who are receiving the news they have cancer, attending appointments or facing treatment for cancer on their own – sometimes for weeks at a time.  

 Mikaela was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin Lymphoma in July 2019. In March 2020, she was told she had relapsed and would have to undergo another round of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and a stem cell transplant. Due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, she had to have chemotherapy treatments and a stem cell treatment on her own, without immediate support from family or friends.  

 Mikaela said, “Unfortunately, in March 2020 I found out that I had relapsed. I thought I was done with the chemo and the thought of having more was horrible. We moved up to Manchester and my mum was with me for my first treatment at The Christie, but then she wasn’t allowed, and I had to go by myself. I had just turned 18 and I would have preferred her there, so that I had that support.” 

 Teenage Cancer Trust and CLIC Sargent know that having to go to appointments and treatment alone has been one of the biggest concerns for young cancer patients throughout the pandemic. In a poll of a Facebook support group for young people CLIC Sargent supports, 90% said they had experienced treatment in hospital alone. Both charities have heard from a number of young people who have shared the impact attending appointments alone has had on them.  

 Mikaela is sharing her story as part of Teenage Cancer Trust and CLIC Sargent’s ‘Hand2Hold’ campaign. The campaign aims to ensure that young people, wherever safe and possible, have a parent or other family member, friend or partner with them during appointments, scans and treatment. The charities have asked the Cancer Ministers in all four nations, via an open letter, to make a commitment that where possible, young people can have a hand to hold throughout treatment and beyond. 

  Dr Louise Soanes, chief nurse at Teenage Cancer Trust said, “Like Mikaela, some young people are having to face cancer without a family member by their side, with Teenage Cancer Trust’s nurses and youth support coordinators doing all they can to provide comfort and support. 

“Whether it’s attending appointments with them, helping them share updates with their family, or providing emotional and holistic support – they are doing all they can to ensure no young person faces cancer alone. But this isn’t enough. Show your support for young people with cancer by signing the pledge for a #Hand2Hold” 

  Helen Gravestock, associate director of policy, influencing and voice at CLIC Sargent said, “If you are a young person with cancer who has had to face appointments, treatment or diagnosis alone, then please be sure to speak to your CLIC Sargent social care team who can also help to provide support through this tough time.” 

 Find out more about Hand2Hold visit: www.teenagecancertrust.org or www.clicsargent.org.uk