An Investigation into the Quality of Life and Dietary Behaviours of Young Adult Cancer Survivors

[HAIRBEAR_UK]

Hello friends are you able to help Toby with this survey? surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CKFTGL2

"Hi my name is Toby and I am currently studying in my final year of BSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition at Hartpury University.

I am reaching out to young adult cancer survivors between the age of 18-30 years old to help with my dissertation:

'An Investigation into the Quality of Life and Dietary Behaviours of Young Adult Cancer Survivors.'

By completing two online anonymous surveys, I hope to discover if cancer affects the quality of life and dietary behaviour of young adult cancer survivors. The topics will aim to explore how certain emotions impact on eating and if there any challenges towards independence, organisation and body image.

My motivation for doing this project stems from my own experiences with cancer. When I was fifteen years old I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and received three and half years of chemotherapy treatment.

I will always be incredibly grateful for the amazing care and support that I received and will remain inspired by the many people I met along the way. As a cancer survivor, I see this project as a really special opportunity and a way of being able to empathise with people who have been affected by cancer. I hope my dissertation can generate an interest for this area and raise awareness.

If you are a cancer survivor between the age of 18-30 years old, please consider following the link for more information on my project and complete the two anonymous surveys, the process will take 5 minutes to complete.

Thank you"

You can access the survey here: surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CKFTGL2

[Newdawn]

Toby, I wish you well with this and applaud your efforts to give back being a young cancer survivor yourself. I don’t meet the age criteria (by a fair bit) but just took a look at your survey out of interest. Just an observation. The criteria you give for completing is;

‘Previously received a diagnosis of cancer which involved treatment of either chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery.’

We are fortunate that many blood cancer patients (including myself) can now avoid chemo regimes and benefit from immunotherapy, particularly on clinical trials. Does your survey include those people? Perhaps you’d intended ‘chemo’ as a coverall description?

I’ve just realised this response will come back to you Nick because I’m not sure whether Toby is a member.

Best wishes,

Newdawn

[HAIRBEAR_UK Administrator in reply to Newdawn]

Hello Newdawn

Thanks for raising this with Toby. If it is OK with you may I forward him your kind words of encouragement and your important observation about targeted therapies?

Nick

[Newdawn in reply to HAIRBEAR_UK]

Yes no problem at all Nick. Thanks.

Regards,

Newdawn

[2003UK Champion]

Thanks to Toby for sharing his personal experiences and using them positively for his dissertation and hopefully they will generate and raise awareness. Filling in the dissertation might also make people realise that they are not the only people with these issues.