Cancer In Young Adults ... Through Parents’ Eyes

Narratives & Stories

Recent Posts

Kevin's story Kevin was the youngest of three siblings and in his final year at High School in Cincinnati, Ohio when he was diagnosed with cancer. After completing intensive treatments of chemo and radiotherapy he left home for college. In her book ‘Finding a Way Out’ published by WestBow Press (December 2011) his mother Susan has written about the challenges this posed for Kevin and for the rest of the family. 18 Mar 2012 Read more...
James Christopher's story James Christopher was 24 years old when he died of colon cancer on June 11th 2009. He was hoping to become an air traffic controller but became seriously ill in April 2009. The following account of his illness is written is by his mother, Mary. 20 Jul 2009 Read more...
Paul H's story Paul was a university student when he was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma and 23 when he died a week after hearing that he had obtained his Law degree. The following account is written by his mother, Sandra. 8 Mar 2008 Read more...
Aidan's story Aidan was still at school when diagnosed with osteosarcoma of the pelvis. This tribute to him is written by his mum. 2 Apr 2007 Read more...
Jason's story Jason was a young farmer who was passionate about the countryside and rural affairs. His hobby was “Lawn Mower Racing”, and according to his mum this ‘strange sport’ was the accomplishment he was proudest of. He was the world champion for his class of lawn mower in 2003. He was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue, just before his 28th birthday in June 2004, and he died just after his 30th birthday in July 2006. 9 Dec 2006 Read more...
Matt's story The following article appears with the permission of David, Matthew’s father. It was first published in the Autumn 2005 Issue of Contact magazine which is published quarterly by UKCCSG. Links to both UKCCSG and MATTDOTCOM appear on this site. Back issues of Contact can be read in full online. 5 Feb 2006 Read more...
Laurie's Story Laurie was in the summer term of his first year at secondary school when he was found to have a rare form of cancer – rhabdomyosarcoma alveolar. His father Matthew Engel wrote about Laurie’s cancer journey in Guardian Weekend (3/12/05). 15 Jan 2006 Read more...
Alexander I's story Alexander was a web developer and IT technician who was diagnosed with a rare soft tissue sarcoma in his thigh when he was 21. 14 Jul 2005 Read more...
Ruth's story Ruth was a 14 year old school girl when a rare lymphoma was diagnosed. Her mother wrote the following account of her feelings about Ruth’s illness for a cancer support journal. 22 Jan 2005 Read more...
Simon's Story Simon was a student when he was diagnosed with choriocarcinoma. His story is told by his mother in a journal she wrote as a tribute to him. 27 Nov 2004 Read more...
J's story J. was an undergraduate student at Sheffield University when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. The charity “Get a Life”, that J. set up the night before he died, has raised thousands of pounds for facilities for young adult cancer patients. 7 Aug 2004 Read more...
Paul's Story Paul’s fight against Hodkin’s disease from the age of 21 to 26 is told through extracts from the diary of his mother kept at the time of his illness. 7 Aug 2004 Read more...
Michael's Story Michael was 15 and at school when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. 13 Jul 2004 Read more...
Felicity and Donna's Stories Felicity and Donna are sisters and were both teenagers when diagnosed with different cancers several years apart. Donna’s cancer was acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and Felicity’s was Hodgkin’s Disease. 29 Jun 2004 Read more...
Jill's Story Jill was 22 and a dental nurse when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. 29 Jun 2004 Read more...
Christopher's Story Christopher was about to start university after a Gap year when diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia. 29 Jun 2004 Read more...
Alexander's Story Alexander was a 19 year old university student when he was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. 29 Jun 2004 Read more...
Sean's Story Sean was aged 17 and still at school when osteosarcoma was diagnosed. Like Matthew and George he was treated at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital. 29 Jun 2004 Read more...
Matthew's Story Matthew was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma at the age of 12. His family now run a charity (Matts’ Beacon) based at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham which raises funds for research into bone cancers in youngsters. 6 May 2004 Read more...
Miles' Story Miles was working in London for Sony Music when he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at the age of 23. 6 May 2004 Read more...
Alasdair's Story Alasdair grew up in Scotland and was aged 15 and at school when diagnosed with osteosarcoma. 6 May 2004 Read more...
Katy's Story Katy had intensive treatment for ovarian cancer when she was a 19 year old student and is now the mother of a healthy baby girl conceived without any medical intervention. She and her husband work in the Christian Ministry. 5 May 2004 Read more...
Tim's Story Tim was diagnosed with testicular cancer while in his second year away at university. 5 May 2004 Read more...
Simon V's Story Simon was a 19 year old student living in Australia when he was diagnosed with an inoperable kidney tumour. He died in a London hospice while travelling with two friends. 20 Apr 2004 Read more...
Alex's Story Alex grew up in Germany with an English mother and a German father. Osteosarcoma was diagnosed during a “year out” before beginning a degree at Warwick University. His mother, Sue Grant has written the story of Alex’s fight against cancer in ‘Standing on His Own Two Feet’. 20 Apr 2004 Read more...
Steve's Story Steve was twenty and working in retail for the John Lewis Partnership when he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. 20 Apr 2004 Read more...
Sianne's Story Sianne was 17 and still at school when rhabdomyosarcoma was diagnosed. 20 Apr 2004 Read more...
Sara's Story Sara was in her early twenties and a desk officer at her local police station when she was diagnosed with non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. 20 Apr 2004 Read more...