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TWO years ago a bid to open the South West’s first purpose-built cancer unit for young people was launched. Today – more than a year ahead of schedule – Sarah, Duchess of York was joined by a small army of cancer patients to officially open the £2.5 million unit.
The new service, at Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, was designed by the 16 to 24-year-olds who are going to be using it.
The youthful atmosphere can be felt in every detail, from the chill out rooms with pool tables, a jukebox and game consoles to the radios playing the latest hits from each corner of the ward.
Bright coloured chairs and tables fill the unit, which has been called Area 61 by the patients, and big windows look out onto Bristol’s skyline.
Appearing on most walls are carefully picked photographs depicting beautiful scenes from around the region, designed to make the area feel more like home.
But what was hailed the most among the youngsters at the opening party, was the chance to meet other people the same age, battling against a similar illness.
Before the unit opened, teenagers were sent to adult or children’s wards, which many said could feel quite frightening and isolating.
With help from the wider community the Teenage Cancer Trust raised the money to fund the new unit.
The duchess first became involved with the charity around 20 years ago because a number of people in her family suffered from cancer.
She said: “I love coming to these units – there are so many inspirational stories from such incredible people. This new unit will help so many young people and their families and friends.”
The charity has opened 28 other young people’s units around the country.
World snooker player, Teenage Cancer Trust ambassador and former young cancer patient, Jack Lisowski, below, was also at the grand opening.
He was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 16.
Jack, now aged 22, said: “It makes me really proud to be involved with this charity. It is one I really believe in. People have put so much work into this and it’s amazing to be a part of that.”
Area 61 has two floors, with one floor dedicated to in-patients with five en-suite bedrooms with sofa beds for family and friends to stay overnight.
Former cancer patient Bryony Bateman, 25, from Fishponds. brought her three-day-old baby Eva to the unit’s opening.
In 2012 she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Her operation to remove the tumour was at the old Southmead Hospital.
Bryony, who works as a health care assistant, said: “I felt very isolated. I didn’t get the opportunity to socialise.
“It would have made such a difference to be treated here; to watch television with other people my age would have been fantastic. It would have taken my mind off the treatment.”
Peter Jerrett, 19, helped plan the new service.
When he found out he had leukaemia last year, he was forced to move from his home in Plymouth to Bristol, to a ward where all the other patients were aged over 60.
He said: “I felt quite bad because I was in better health in comparison. They all had tubes coming out of them and I was scared that was what I could expect to happen to me.
“This (the unit) recognises that the group of young people should be treated individually. It has been designed to make people feel better – there are lots of bright colours and big windows. To have somewhere to socialise is really important – it encourages people to make friends and to share what they are going through.”
The charity first anticipated it would take around three years to collect £2.5 million in raise the money needed for the unit, but thanks to the efforts of the community the cash was gathered in less than 24 months.
Each year, more than 200 young people from Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Devon and Cornwall are diagnosed with cancer
The charity still needs around £1,000 a day to pay for the service.
Anyone who would like to donate should visit its website at www.teenagecancertrust.org.
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