Britain’s Duchess of York officially opened a cancer treatment center for young people yesterday (17.12.12).
Sarah Ferguson – ex-wife of Prince Andrew – is the patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust and said the facility at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, East Anglia, allows people of the same age to sit down and discuss what they are going through.
The duchess was joined by her daughter Princess Eugenie and McFly’s Harry Judd and the 11-bedroom center has treated 60 patients since opening in February.
Dr Helen Hatcher, consultant oncologist at Cambridge University Hospitals, said: ”Having somewhere where young people can feel more relaxed in their environment when going through stressful and debilitating treatment has made an enormous difference to them and their families.”
Alistair Wheeler, 23, and from Ipswich, was admitted to the ward two months ago with terminal cancer.
He said: ”It’s nice knowing that other people of the same age are here and the social zone is absolutely fantastic.”
Simon Davies, chief executive of the Teenage Cancer Trust, said: ”Today is a momentous day for the charity.
”Not only is this our 25th Teenage Cancer Trust unit but it is also the first in East Anglia.”
According to the Teenager Cancer Trust, around six people aged between 13 and 24 are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK.