Being diagnosed with cancer may be one of the scariest and most challenging times of your life. The Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) Cancer Service in Cambridge is here to support you and your family, wherever you are treated in the region. We see everyone as an individual, not just a diagnosis.
Our dedicated team of TYA Cancer Specialists has expert knowledge in looking after young people with different types of cancer from both a medical and psycho-social perspective.
If you are aged between 16 and 24 and live in the East of England (as shown on the map below), you will be referred to the TYA Cancer Service in Cambridge, which is the Principal Treatment Centre (PTC) for TYAs with cancer in the East of England.
We are closely linked with three TYA-designated hospitals (DHs) across the East of England region, approved to provide specialist, age-appropriate care for young people with cancer. Each centre has a TYA Cancer Nurse Specialist based there to support you:
- Peterborough City Hospital
- Norfolk and Norwich Hospital
- Ipswich Hospital
Can you be treated closer to home?
Yes, if you are aged 19 – 24 years.
If you are between 19 and 24 years of age, you should be offered a choice to receive treatment at the PTC in Cambridge or more locally in one of our regional designated
hospitals. Your doctor or clinical nurse specialist will discuss this with you and share appropriate information about your choice of treatment centre.
If you are aged 16 - 18 years, your care should be managed at the PTC (as per NHS guidance, NHSE 2023).
If you are between 16 and 18 years of age, you will be referred to the PTC in Cambridge for your care, under an adult cancer team. In some cases, shared supportive care can be arranged closer to home; this depends on where you live and how local services are set up. Please see our information booklet and video for further information on how we can support you with the impact of receiving cancer treatment far from home, including effects on your finances, personal life, education, and relationships. You may find our information booklet and video helpful when deciding where you would like to be treated.
Some cancers may require treatment at specialist hospitals outside of the East of England region. If this applies to you, your team will discuss it with you and continue to support you while you are out of the area.
How to make the best decision for yourself
Working out the best place for your treatment can be difficult. We recommend talking to your family, cancer specialists, and friends to help guide your decision. You can also contact the TYA Clinical Nurse Specialist at your current or nearest hospital for support in choosing what is right for you. You will be supported, no matter what you decide to do.
What is the TYA Cancer Service?
The TYA Cancer Service is a team of professionals who work together across the East of England to care for and support young people with cancer. It is an NHS requirement that all young people diagnosed with cancer, aged 16 to 24, are referred to the TYA Cancer Service by their cancer specialist team.
The Teenage Cancer Trust TYA Cancer Unit at CUH is located on Ward C9 and includes a day unit along with 8 inpatient beds, comprising 5 side rooms and a 3-bedded bay.
The TYA Cancer Support Team includes:
- Teenage and Young Adult Clinical Lead (Doctor)
- Teenage Cancer Trust Lead TYA Nurse (East of England)
- Teenage Cancer Trust Clinical Nurse Specialist based in the PTC and each DH
- Teenage Cancer Trust Clinical Nurse
- Teenage Cancer Trust Youth Support Coordinator
- TYA Counselling Service
- TYA Genomics Clinical Nurse Specialist
- TYA Cancer Service Community Lead
- TYA Cancer Long-term Follow-up Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Teenage Cancer Trust Administrative Support
The TYA team is here to support you and your family throughout your cancer diagnosis, treatment and follow-up in whatever ways are helpful to you.
We are here to answer your questions and support you in all aspects of your life.
Please do not hesitate to ask us anything or raise any concerns. If it is important to you, it is important to us.
We work very closely with the Young Lives vs Cancer team, who form a crucial part of our support service, helping young people and their families to cope throughout treatment.
Read more on the Young Lives vs Cancer website (opens in a new tab).
Contact information
Email the TYA team (as a button to contact directly)
Telephone: 01223 274243 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm)
Out of hours contact telephone for Teenage Cancer Trust Unit: 01223 274223 (Ward C9) (urgent queries only)