August 2015
Issue 1
The TYA News
Newsletter of Thames Valley Teenagers and Young Adults (TYA) Cancer Service
WELCOME TO THE FIRST EDITION!
Welcome to the first edition of the Teenagers and Young Adults (TYA) newsletter! This is a newsletter for all young people
aged 16-25 years who have been diagnosed with cancer - we hope it will keep you updated on things happening throughout
the TYA Service and in your area, providing useful information about events and opportunities and letting you know about
resources that you might find helpful. If you would like to write something for us or if we miss something that you feel should
be included, please do get in touch. We would love to hear from you!
The TYA Team
TYA @ THORPE PARK, JULY 2015
On Wednesday 22nd July the TYA Team took a fearless
group of young people to Thorpe Park in Surrey… They
braved the world’s first horror-movie themed
rollercoaster Saw, the twists and turns of Collossus,
and the super-soaking water ride Tidal Wave! A good
day was had by all. This was one of the brilliant events
organized by our Youth Support Co-Ordinator (YSC) with more events happening very soon!
Sarah Berwick (17) came along with her friend Ellen.
Here are her memories of the day…
Thanks to the Teenage Cancer Trust me and a
friend were able to take a trip to Thorpe Park
along with a group of other young people. The
trip allowed me to take a day out with my good
friend whom I hadn't seen in a while and have a
fantastic time. At the beginning of the day we
were both full of trepidation wondering whether
we would be able to make it onto the rides, but
by the end we had ridden all the roller coasters
even going back for seconds. The highlight of my
day was riding The Saw roller coaster in the
pouring rain, adding to the experience of the
ride. After the short downpour we ended the day
basking in the sun with a well deserved ice
cream and some chocolate strawberries.The bus
ride home was a quiet one for everybody, as we
had all been worn out by the great day and fell
fast asleep…
Jordan, Gemma, Ben, Kieren, Sienna, Natalie,
Rebecca, Jess, Sarah, and Ellen at the start of the day.
Thanks Sarah! 
WE NEED YOU!
QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS
KAREN SHERBOURNE, OXFORD
TYA RESEARCH
The Psychology Department is planning
a new research study to find out how
people manage the side-effects of
dexamethasone - a steroid that some
people have as part of their treatment
for leukaemia. Whilst some people don't
get affected by dex, other people tell us
it can make them moody, angry or very
hungry (among other things!). We are
interested in what you think of dex to
help us plan a research study!
Please do get in touch with Helen
Griffiths on 01865 223195 or email
helen.griffiths@ouh.nhs.uk if you
are interested in telling us a little bit
about what dex was like for you. Thank
you!
JOIN THE TYA PATIENT PANEL!
We are setting up a Patient Panel for the TYA Cancer
Service, so we’re looking for young people to help us
think about how we can make our services better!
Every edition we will get to know a member of TYA staff
better by asking them some quickfire questions! In this
edition, the questions are from Elliot Dugdale (18) from
Oxford.
Q: What’s your favourite meal?
A: Roast Dinner
Q: Do you have a dream car?
A new Mini
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I like to chill-out, read, watch films and enjoy nice
meals out with family and friends.
Q: Do you have any ambitions?
A: I would love to travel, especially to see more of
Italy, and maybe even Australia one day too.
Q: What’s your favourite thing about this job?
A: Spending time with young people.
Karen Sherbourne has been a nurse for 30 years, most of that
time has been in cancer nursing, and six and a half years has
been as the Advanced Nurse Practitioner for the Teenage and
Young Adult team.
Could you…
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Tell us what things are important to young people who
have been diagnosed with cancer.
Give us feedback on our plans for improving services.
Check through new leaflets/letters to make sure we’ve
got them right.
Help us to plan new TYA events and research projects.
We hope that you have enjoyed reading the TYA newsletter. If you
have any ideas about how we could make it better, please let us
know! We always welcome feedback: email
Karen.Sherbourne@ouh.nhs.uk
The Patient Panel will meet up every three months and
your role can be as big or small as you like.
The Thames Valley Teenagers and Young Adults Care Team is
supported by:
For more information just call Helen on 01865 223195
or email Helen.Griffiths@ouh.nhs.uk. Thank you! 
If you would like to nominate a member of staff, please
get in touch.