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Why bother teaching about cancer?

	Because children and young people are affected by cancer whether they have it themselves, or their friends, family or teacher are diagnosed.

Because more than one million people in the UK have had a cancer diagnosis, and one in three of us are expected to get cancer at some point in our lives.

Because from the results of our survey amongst teachers, 98% felt it was important to teach about cancer.

In the recent results of our teacher pack review, children and young people thought it should be discussed at school.

You can’t run away from it. It’s part of life.Primary school pupil

Talking about it helped me not to be afraid to tell anybody. I wouldn’t have to keep it a secret.Primary school pupil

We’re taught about sexually transmitted diseases and other things we should be aware of, so why not talk about a common illness such as cancer?Secondary school student

Children and young people who want to find out more information on cancer can log on to our website ‘Why Bother?’ at www.macmillan.org.uk/whybother. The website, created with input from a group of young people, is a one stop shop for kids and young people to find out about cancer, its effects and treatments, how they can reduce their chance of developing the disease, and how they can support people living with it.


	This website is a great place for children and young people to go to find out more information on cancer. It is important for young people to understand about cancer because they could have someone in their family who is affected or a schoolmate or even have cancer themselves like me.Sarah, diagnosed with Hodgkin's, a type of cancer.

Macmillan has produced an information leaflet for young people in the form of a 'z-card' that folds down to credit card size. It directs young people to the Why Bother? website, as well as giving them some basic facts about cancer, the work of Macmillan, and ways to stay healthy. You can request copies of the youth leaflet by contacting us.

CancerBackup recently published a survey of more than 400 12-19 year olds across the UK, which revealed that cancer is a big issue for teenagers: seven out of ten (70%) know someone who has, or has had cancer; seven out of ten (74%) say they wouldn’t know what to say to a friend with cancer and half (50%) say they would avoid talking to them about it. More than a third (37%) think that cancer could be caused by knocks and bumps and more than one in ten (12%) think that cancer could be catching.

So why should children and young people bother to learn about cancer? Because by learning the facts it will dispel misconceptions, reduce unnecessary levels of fear and raise awareness of cancer issues.

As teachers, you're the experts in talking to children and young people, in making them think. Why not encourage them to visit the Why Bother? website to learn the facts for themselves.