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Teachers and people working with children and teenagers

	Teachers and other people who work with children diagnosed with cancer often need the same information and support as the person’s peers.

They may not realise that children can develop cancer, or that there is a better chance of recovery for children than adults with cancer.

Some teachers may unintentionally treat the person with cancer as though they are ‘fragile’, which may add to the person’s sense of not being ‘normal’. Talking with the child, their parents and the child’s medical team liaison before they return to school will help the teacher reduce these misconceptions and know how to better support the child.


	Having Angela in my class was a positive experience for me and my students. I was very concerned that other children would treat her differently, especially when she lost her hair. Angela’s parents talked openly to the class and answered their questions. I felt proud that her classmates rallied around her.J Burton, teacher

When you’ve had a personal experience of cancer

Sometimes a teacher who has had a personal experience of cancer may project their own feelings onto the person with cancer or other members of staff. For example, if a teacher had a negative experience when colleagues reacted to their hair loss, or if some friends found it difficult to talk with them as they did before – this may influence how they act towards the person with cancer.

As mentioned before, the child’s parents and medical team liaison will be able to give advice on the effects of treatment and the support needed at school and home. Before a teacher can support a child or teenager with cancer returning to school, they should learn more about the type of cancer, find out about experiences other children or teenagers with cancer have had, how the treatment may affect the person and even how other schools have coped.

More information and support

For more information and support for children and young people affected by cancer contact our Macmillan CancerLine by calling 0808 808 2020 or email cancerline@macmillan.org.uk. Or, check out our useful resources page for other sources of support.