I'm A Healthcare Professional Are you a healthcare professional? DO YOU SUPPORT PEOPLE IN THEIR 20s AND 30s LIVING WITH AND BEYOND CANCER? WE CAN HELP YOU HELP THEM. Today, in the UK, 34 young adults in their 20s and 30s will hear the words "you have cancer". You may even have had to say that to someone yourself today. It's never easy but Trekstock is here to help. WHAT IS TREKSTOCK? Trekstock is the UK's only charity that specifically supports young adults in their 20s and 30s living with, through, and beyond cancer treatment. For this age group, the experience of being diagnosed with cancer can vary massively. For those who started out in TYA care, this can stop abruptly at 25, whilst those treated in adult services are surrounded by an older demographic making them feel isolated and more alone. Your 20s and 30s are a key time, then suddenly cancer stops all of your life plans in there tracks. We believe passionately that this age group deserve support that is dedicated solely to their needs, that is evidence based, whilst also being relevant to this demographic . The aim of all our programmes is to unite them with other young adults, inform them so they can navigate the challenges that a cancer diagnosis brings, and help them to thrive by equipping them with tools to live well with and beyond cancer. WHAT THEY TELL US 77% tell us they need psychological support 68% tell us they need help getting physically active 62% tell us they need help with diet and nutrition 85% of young adults in our community wish they'd found out about Trekstock's services earlier in their cancer journey. That's where you come in. We know that you're really busy so we've put all the information you need on this one page. At the moment we are doing virtually talks online for hospitals. We are happy to join a CNS meeting on Zoom or just send you some printed materials for you to read in your own time. We also send out an HCP newsletter every quarter to keep you up to date. Want us to talk to youR team? WANT PRINTED MATERIALS? Sign up to our Hcp Newsletter HOW WE CAN HELP YOUR PATIENTS? We believe that patients in their 20s and 30s want to be young adults first and foremost, and not defined by their cancer. They still want to have fun. They still want to keep active. They still want to eat healthily. That's why we have created a unique, evidence-based and fun set of programmes that allows them to meet, get active together and thrive with through and beyond cancer. WHAT YOUNG ADULTS RECEIVE WHEN THEY JOIN TREKSTOCK: Support Pack: we send each young adult who joins our community a free support pack -a support booklet about our services, a copy of "Food & Cancer - What's the Deal?" and a free year's subscription to the meditation app, Headspace. Are you with a young adult right now? Sign up to receive a support pack UNITE: BRINGING YOUNG ADULT TOGETHER "Young people with cancer can often report social isolation and difficulties maintaining relationships. Social support is therefore a vital part of improving the psychosocial experience for young people during and after cancer treatment. The impact that peer support can have on young people should not be underestimated, especially for those who may have never met another young person with cancer. Peer support is a vital component of age appropriate care and gives young people the opportunity to meet others with similar concerns, share experiences, and give and receive emotional support which allows them to maintain a sense of normality and in turn, has a positive impact on their experience and wellbeing.“ Claire Fowler, TYA Clinical Nurse Specialist St George's Hospital, Tooting QuoteReference Online Support: Young adults can join our private Facebook community of over 1000 young adults to chat with others who understand, share experiences and offer each other support. We also have groups set up for different locations across the UK and for specific support needs. This platform is monitored by the Health Team and is available 24 hours a day. For young adults to join tell them to search for: 'Trekstock Young Adult Cancer Support Community" Meet-Ups: Virtual online chat spaces run by our Champions, who have had cancer themselves, to provide a safe space for other young adults living with and beyond cancer to connect chat and have fun. What I wish I'd Known : Virtual monthly online chat space exclusively for those who've been 'Just Diagnosed' to chat with others in the same boat as well as with our host, a young adult whose further down the line than them. It's a space for them to connect as well to ask what helped, what hindered and tips on how to navigate the trek that being diagnosed with cancer is, and hear from Trekstock all the way we can support them along the way. INFORM: WHAT THEY WANT TO KNOW - Resources for you and for them. Trekstock Talks: A series of videos based around the support needs of our community with experts and young adults with cancer talking about their experience. They cover : Sex and Relationships, Fertility, Living with an Incurable Diagnosis, Navigating Public Transport, Parenting with Cancer, Anxiety, Communicating with Loved Ones and your HCPs, Food and Nutrition and more. Lifting the Lid: A series of engaging in-person and online talks on topics that are community told us they wanted to 'lift the lid' on. These included menopause, cancer in the LGBTQI+ community as well as cancer and exercise. Experts included Dr Louise Newson, the Menopause Doctor, Dr Michael Brady, NHS England lead for LGBTQI+ as well as Lauren Mahon of You, Me Big C and Trekstock Young Adult Ambassador. Second series coming soon. WATCH THEM HERE Nutrition Resource: A no-nonsense nutrition resource written by Dr Hazel Wallace (The Food Medic) and a team of experts: an oncologist, two dietitians and three young adults with cancer. It includes honest evidence-based advice and easy recipes. We have distributed over 10,000 copies across the UK and have had incredible feedback from both healthcare professionals and young adults alike. Request copies here. THRIVE: LIVING WITH AND BEYOND CANCER AND TREATMENT Getting active is hard enough let alone with cancer and lockdown to contend with. BUT the research around keeping active during treatment and after shows that physical activity can: Reduce cancer-related fatigue Improve their quality of life Improve mental health wellbeing Improve overall physical wellbeing and activity levels Reduce the impact cancer treatment can have READ OUR JOURNAL ARTICLE ON OUR PROGRAMME HOW WE GET THEM ACTIVE RENEW exercise programme: 8-week online course of small group exercise classes of up to 6 people led by a Level 4 Cancer Rehab instructor. The groups are for anyone during or after treatment and the grouping is based where possible on similar ability and location or treatment centre. Each session builds on the one before and can be adjusted for any level of fitness or other limitations. The class will include resistance training and cardio to build strength, stamina, and confidence. click here to refer an individual or group *for safety we ask all those in treatment to fill out a pre questionnaire, consent and a medical referral form. Those who have finished just need to fill out a consent form and the pre questionnaire. Topup RENEW classes If your patient has done RENEW and is finding it hard to continue to keep active why don't you sign them up to our RENEW top-up online group classes coming soon. These are a chance for those who have done our initial programme to join fortnightly top-up sessions for up to 12 young adults helping them keep active and connect to others still. Keep an eye on the website to find out more. Online exercise videos: A series of yoga and exercise sessions designed by young adults with a Level 4 Cancer Rehab trainer. These enable young adults to get moving safely and more gently at their own pace. Watch them here Pilates Class Weekly classes run by a Pilates instructor who is also a cancer exercise specialist. She is passionate about how Pilates supports people to feel comfortable and confident in their bodies and offers a variety of adaptations to each move to suit different people's limitations. To sign a young adult up for the class Any questions? Drop the Health Team a question at [email protected]