Children feel ‘alone' during cancer treatment

Sixteen-year-old Zak was diagnosed with a brain and spinal cord tumour last year

Mental health support is being offered to children in Somerset who have said they feel isolated and alone during cancer treatment.

Amelie, 12, and Zak, 16, were both diagnosed with tumours last year, and have described feeling “scared” and “isolated” whilst in hospital.

Their families said their mental health would have been much worse if it was not for digital support groups being offered by Young Lives vs Cancer.

The charity wants more to be done to help children access specialised services during and after diagnosis.

Really scared

Amelie and Zak are sharing their stories as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

“When I was diagnosed I felt really scared, and worried how I would be treated,” Amelie said.

Amelie, from Croscombe, was a confident gymnast, runner and beat-boxer before undergoing a ten-hour surgery to have her brain tumour removed.

When she woke up from surgery she suffered from a condition called posterior fossa syndrome and ataxia.

She lost her mobility, speech and vision, and had to relearn everything.

“During my chemo I was always on my own in one room. It made me feel isolated and lonely," Amelie continued.

Amelie said she felt alone during her treatment for cancer

Zak was studying for his GCSEs when he was diagnosed with a brain and spinal cord tumour, he asked doctors if he was “going to die”.

“On every single level Zak felt isolated from the moment he was in hospital,” Zak’s mum, Helena said

“He didn’t see anyone and had no friends who could relate to what he was going through.”

After both struggling with their mental wellbeing, Amelie and Zak both attended the Young Lives vs Cancer digital wellbeing support group.

“Doing the digital support group helped just meeting other young people and seeing how many are going through it,” Zak said.

“When you are in a room by yourself you think you are the only one. It was good just to listen to what they have gone through.”