For Teenage Cancer Trust, the LifewithArt Exhibition revolves around the photographic work of Maya Lund and her “Belle of the Bald” theme. A stunning photographic exhibition created by a very talented young lady. In her own words…
“I have just graduated from fashion at Middlesex University. I did not leave in a usual, normal way, I was straight into hospital being diagnosed with cancer. As the prospect of losing my hair became a reality I started thinking of ways I could use this as an opportunity to do something creative. I decided that I could use my head as a great way of documenting my time with cancer and a place where I can celebrate being beautifully bald. I hope you enjoy the journey.”
Over 22 years Teenage Cancer Trust has learnt a lot about what it’s like to be a young person with cancer and their unique emotional, physical and practical needs. Because Teenage Cancer Trust understands, they can provide better care, better services and hopefully a more positive outcome for young people.
There’s never a good time to get cancer, but for a teenager the timing seems particularly cruel. Young people can get some of the most rare and aggressive forms of cancer. Their rapidly changing bodies can work against them, enabling the cancer to grow faster. The emotional upheaval of adolescence can make a cancer diagnosis even harder to cope with.
Without the work of Teenage Cancer Trust, young people with cancer would be treated alongside children or elderly patients at the end of their lives. Being away from their normal life, friends and environment at such a vulnerable time is the last thing they need.
Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for the six young people aged between 13 and 24 diagnosed with cancer every day. They know that what they do need is to be treated together, by teenage cancer experts, in an environment tailored for them.
Teenage Cancer Trust develops specialist units within NHS hospitals that do just this. They want every young person with cancer to have access to this specialist support, no matter where they live and are dedicated to making it happen. LifewithArt hopes, in our own small way, to help Teenage Cancer Trust achieve this.
