Rochester mother calls for more support for youth cancer treatment
Amie Stringer has raised £160,000 for cancer charities, since her daughter was diagnosed at the age of four.
Amie Stringer, a mother from Rochester, is calling for more awareness about the difficulties of childhood cancer, after her daughter Eleanor was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at the age of four last year.
The diagnosis was a shock, following routine surgery to remove swollen tonsils. “It was one of the worst days of our life,” Amie said, recalling the unexpected news.
This inspired Amie to start fundraising, aiming to support the charities that helped her family navigate this challenging period.
While Eleanor is now in remission and thriving, Amie acknowledges the ongoing struggles families face when navigating cancer diagnoses and treatments.
Amie expressed the importance of ongoing national attention to children’s cancer care:
"Cancer is not going away, it's getting worse. More children are being diagnosed all the time. There needs to be a focus on consistent, high-quality treatment and support across the country."
For families affected by cancer, Amie stresses the value of community support and urges people to participate in fundraising and awareness efforts:
"If you come across an opportunity to donate or get involved in charity work, do it because these children need this support," highlighting that every contribution makes a significant difference to those facing the difficult journey of cancer recovery.
The National Cancer Plan
New research finds the impact of cancer on children and young people has not improved across key areas in the past three years
22% of young people with cancer report low life satisfaction, compared to just under 5% of the general population and 44% report high levels of anxiety
More than half of parents, carers and siblings report high levels of anxiety - more than twice as likely as in the general population
The research also shows that parents, carers and siblings are more than twice as likely as the general population to experience high levels of anxiety, with over 50% reporting high levels of anxiety in the new survey.
In February, the UK Government committed to delivering a National Cancer Plan for England and, in a landmark first, included a section dedicated to providing tailored support and care for children and young people with cancer.
This includes the introduction of a Travel Fund, to support young people and families with costs to travel to treatment as well as improved psychosocial support, to help with the impact of cancer on their mental health and well-being.
As uncertainty in the UK Government continues, campaigners say implementation of the National Cancer Plan must be prioritised and changes to leadership in key government departments cannot be a barrier to its progress.
Rachel Kirby-Rider, Chief Executive at Young Lives vs Cancer, says:
“Earlier this year the UK Government launched the National Cancer Plan for England and with it, a landmark first with a dedicated plan for children and young people with cancer. In this current uncertainty, one thing remains certain; children and young people are still struggling with the impact of cancer. No matter what happens, no barriers can stop children and young people with cancer getting the support they need.
“Receiving a cancer diagnosis at any age is tough but it is incredibly hard for children and young people who often spend months if not years in hospital away from their friends and family. Today’s findings show this can have a huge impact on their wellbeing.
“Through the Children and Young People’s Taskforce we have worked closely with the UK Government to shape what support the National Cancer Plan for England needs to deliver to help children, young people and their families face these challenges. At this uncertain time, we will be working closely with the Government to make sure the needs of those we support continue to be prioritised and the Plan is implemented.”