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Staff urged to consider how cancer therapy affects teens Treatment side effects can cause young people to become anxious about sex and relationships cancer patients about treatment-induced changes or refer them to a service that can help. ‘It is important to make sure people’s sexuality is not a forgotten aspect of cancer care, as it is an important part of their lives.’ Ms Soanes will be giving tips to nurses and allied health professionals on talking to young people about treatment-induced changes in a workshop on July 6 in London. The session will be part of a symposium organised by the TCT on the psychological aspects of teenagers and young adults’ cancer care. It will be led by Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust clinical research fellow in psychosexual practice Isabel White, and take place one day ahead of the TCT’s eighth international conference on teenage and young adult cancer medicine. The conference draws nurses, social workers, allied health professionals, physiotherapists, medics and psychologists, as well as survivors and patients from across the world to share research, best practice, education interventions and innovations on cancer care. tinyurl.com/tca-conf-2014

More training and education can reduce asthma deaths A REVIEW of asthma deaths has found that 14% of the 195 that occurred across the UK in the year up to January 30 2013 were children and young people. The National Review of Asthma Deaths recommends that parents, carers, children and teachers should be educated better about managing asthma, including when inhalers should be used and why, and what to do in emergencies. It calls for increased efforts to minimise exposure to allergens and passive smoking in young people. Association of Respiratory Nurse Specialists chair Rebecca Sherrington called for more specialist nurses and training for all clinical staff. For more information go to tiny.cc/h6a9fx 6

June 2014 | Volume 26 | Number 5

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By Jennifer Sprinks CHILDREN’S NURSES SHOULD be aware of the impact that cancer treatment has on the sexual activities and relationships of teenagers and young adults, a nurse consultant has warned. Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) consultant nurse for teenagers and young adults Louise Soanes said healthcare professionals need to understand how cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, affect sexual function and sexual relationships. For example, radiotherapy treatment to the pelvis can make the skin feel sore, making intercourse uncomfortable. Treatment can also result in vaginal bleeding and penile pain during intercourse. ‘Everyone who has chemotherapy has fatigue and body confidence issues because of losing their hair, the acquisition of stretch marks and scars, loss of femininity and masculinity, which can make people feel unattractive and reduce self-esteem, causing depression and anxiety,’ said Ms Soanes. She said healthcare professionals should be open to having discussions with young

UK has highest risk of premature infant mortality in Europe A GROWING gap between the rich and poor and insufficient targeted health policies to reduce mortality mean that children in the UK have a higher risk of dying prematurely than those living in other Western European countries. A report by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and the National Children’s Bureau found that more than half of deaths in childhood occur in the first year of life as the result of pre-term delivery and low birthweight. It found that injury is the most frequent cause of death after the first year of life, with more than three quarters of deaths due to injury in 10-18 year olds caused by road traffic accidents. RCPCH president Hilary Cass said: ‘We know there are things that all healthcare professionals can be doing better to reduce avoidable child deaths, whether it is early detection of problems, safe prescribing or using effective tools such as asthma plans to manage conditions.’ For more details, visit tiny.cc/9q78fx

Call for better service integration to help improve child health PROGRESS HAS been made in improving children’s health but more needs to be done, according to the first annual report of the Children and Young People’s Health Outcomes Forum. The forum, which was set up by the government in response to concern from health professionals about child mortality rates, calls for health, education social care services to work together more effectively. It recommends a bigger role for schools, with emphasis on prevention and early intervention, a new strategy for children’s mental health and more integration between children’s health and social care services. Read the report at tiny.cc/bp98fx NURSING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

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Call for better service integration to help improve child health.

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