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Your options

When you are diagnosed with cancer as a young person, your needs will be different to those of younger children or older adults. Depending on your age and the type of cancer you have, you may be able to choose from a number of options for your treatment.

If you want to find out more about your options, you can always talk to your doctor or your nurse for more information.

Treatment at a principal treatment centre (PTC)

All young people who are diagnosed with cancer have the right to be treated in a principal treatment centre, like Southampton. Your doctor can make all the necessary arrangements for this to happen, no matter which hospital you are first seen in.

Treatment at your local hospital

Depending on the type of cancer, you may be able to have treatment at a local hospital that links in with a specialist centre. For some cancer types, we can arrange treatment at specialist hospitals outside of our area.

You may be able to have some of your treatment in a hospital nearer to your home, when it is safe to do so. This is called ‘shared care’ and we will discuss this with you if it is an option.

You can read more about your options, and complete a checklist compiled by patients who have completed their treatment, by visiting the NHS young cancer care pages.

If you would like to visit our unit and meet the team before starting any treatment, or if you are thinking about transferring your treatment to us, ask your doctor or nurse to contact us or call one of our nurses on:

  • 07920 708342, or
  • 07920 708343

Aged 13 to 16?

Teenagers aged 13 to 15 years are looked after on the children’s cancer unit (Piam Brown). It should be possible for you to transfer to our unit when you are 16 if you, your parents and the care team think it’s a good idea.

Young people who are diagnosed with cancer when they’re 16 usually have the option of being looked after on either the children’s or the teenager's unit. If you are 16, we can show you round and introduce you to both teams to help you and your family choose the best option for you.