Illustration of a pear on top of a pile of books

Home Class activities Facts about cancer Real life experiences Support Getting involved
HOME > Support > Issues children with cancer face	Search

Issues children with cancer face

	Children and teens with cancer may face a variety of issues, from relationships with classmates to physical limitations.

It’s important for the person with cancer to have a member of school staff they can talk to, confide in, and get support when needed.

For children and young people affected by cancer, there can be a variety of issues that arise. The main ones are:


	relationships physical appearance bullying keeping up with school work physical limitations having a sibling or parent with cancer

Relationships with classmates

Young people with cancer are often worried about how their friends and classmates will act towards them, especially if they have had long periods away from school or return with obvious physical changes, such as hair loss. Most peers accept the changes, but they may have questions, so it's a good idea for the person to plan possible answers. It is also important to remind their peers that you cannot catch cancer. Friends can be the strongest support to a person with cancer.

Physical appearance

Side effects of cancer treatments can change the way a person looks. Total or partial hair loss, facial swelling, or obvious weight loss or gain, are just a few of the main expected changes. When the treatment has finished, these side effects will go away.

There are possible long-term effects of treatment such as growth, problems with fertility or related organs, and learning difficulties if the brain and central nervous system are affected. Most of these may not become apparent at school, but it’s important for the parent, teacher, school nurse and doctor to notify each other, if appropriate, of any suspicions of these or other affects on the person’s health.

Bullying/teasing

Children and teens receiving treatment are sometimes teased or bullied about the change in their appearance or stigmatised because other kids think they can ‘catch’ cancer. As well as dealing firmly with the teasing and bullying, preparing the classmates for the person’s return will give them a better understanding of cancer, effects of treatment, and help them to be supportive. Try using a lesson or video scene from our Cancertalk pack or our activity sheets.

You can also have a member of the child’s medical team speak to the class or request a representative from Macmillan to give a general talk about cancer and how they can help people living with it.

Keeping up with school work

Children and young people receiving cancer treatment may suffer from fatigue, drowsiness, tiring easily and losing concentration. They may also have long periods of absence. The person should be encouraged and helped to keep up with school work as much as possible during these times. Perhaps the child can attend school for half-days when they first return to school as well as be allowed to have periods of rest if needed. Children and young people who have been treated for brain cancer may need extra support in the classroom.

Some teenagers being treated for cancer have said they feel teachers do not want to push them as hard as other students, and so feel patronised or singled out. Although intended to make the person with cancer feel better, it can sometimes have the opposite effect.


	People's reactions towards you change when they hear of your illness. I just want to be treated as the girl I used to be.Lisa

Young people with cancer need to be aware of any short or long-term limitations due to their treatment and how this can affect their academic progress.

Home tuition is appropriate for a child who is not medically able to return to school after treatment. The family’s doctor can usually make the request to the local education authority.

Physical limitations

Certain drugs used to treat cancer may cause the child or teenager to develop weak muscles and joints, and limb salvage surgery will affect their physical ability as well as emotional wellbeing. Being unable to take part in sports or other physical activities may make them feel upset and left out.

As mentioned, most teenagers with cancer want to be treated as normal, like their peers. But, it is important for both the teacher and young person with cancer to be aware of their physical limitations. The person’s medical team liaison should give advice on this before returning to school.

When a parent or sibling has cancer

When a child is affected by cancer in their immediate family – they have a parent or sibling with it – they may try to hide the complex emotions they’re feeling. They may envy the attention the sick child gets, or worry about their potential death; they may try to assign blame. These feelings may manifest themselves in their behaviour at school. For example, they may become disruptive or withdrawn, become frustrated or upset easily, fall behind in class work, or play truant.

It is important for the school staff to be aware of the cancer diagnosis and the additional help and support needed for the children in the family, even if they are in different schools, as well as dealing firmly and sensitively with the challenging behaviour.

The child may also face being teased about the illness in their family. Parents should talk to their children about how to deal with their peers in such difficult situations. The child should know what information has been given to their classmates, so they can anticipate the questions that might occur.