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Preparing for a child with cancer returning to school

	When the child or teen with cancer is ready to return to school whilst undergoing treatment, it is essential that their return be as easy and quick as possible.

Going back to school is a sign to everyone that the child or teen’s life is getting back to normal and moving forward, which can give them a much-needed boost and hope for the future.

Communication is key

It is a good idea for the parent(s) to firstly talk to their child about how they feel about returning to school, so they can understand what their child’s fears or anxieties are. It’s a good idea to think about the kinds of questions the child’s peers may have, such as ‘Are you going to die’, ‘Can I catch it?’ and ‘Can you still play?’ and how to answer them.

Good communication between the parent(s) and school is essential. Informing and involving the Headteacher and teacher from the beginning is very important and will help establish a good support network.

Medical information

The school should have the basic information regarding the child’s illness and treatment, including possible physical and emotional side-effects, when medication should be taken, and planned absences. If the child has lost their hair due to treatment such as chemotherapy, they will often want to wear a hat. So an allowance should be given to this child and other teachers should be made aware.

The child’s parent(s) should get a letter from the child’s medical team, which will include all of this information which they can pass onto the school. Or you can ask the child’s medical team to send a letter directly to the school. It will also be useful if a member from the child’s medical team liaises with the school, as they can give helpful advice.

Preparing classmates and peers

If the child and parent(s) are agreeable to it, teachers may want to discuss the illness and treatment with the child’s classmates and peers. School staff and classmates should be prepared for what to expect such as hair loss, weight gain or loss, or wearing a wig or hat at school. This can help to prevent the child being singled out or teased.

Classmates and other peers need to be reassured that there is no threat to them if the ill person is returning to school – they cannot ‘catch’ cancer. Classmates will often have questions, so the ill person can prepare for these by finding out what the typical questions are and getting advice from their medical team.

More information and support

For more information on children with cancer returning to school contact our Macmillan CancerLine on 0808 808 2020 or email cancerline@macmillan.org.uk. Or, check out our useful resources page for other sources of support.