| you are not alone
You are not alone. Many teens with cancer struggle with similar issues when they return to school! Here are some things we’ve learned that can help:
- Think about what you want people to know about your experience before you get there. You may want really close friends to know a lot, and casual acquaintances to know less. You decide who to tell and what you want them to know.
- It’s often a good idea to share the basic truth about illness and treatment, because kids gossip and sometimes what they “make up” about you is much worse than the truth. For example, keep it simple: “I had cancer and treatment, and I’m doing OK now!”
- Plan to talk to your teachers and counselors so they can help you. They need to know if you will be absent a lot, or you need more time to finish assignments. If you don’t let them know, they cannot be helpful.
- If you need extra help catching up, don’t be embarrassed to ask for help. Talk to your counselor at school to find out about the kinds of resources available to help you, such as extra tutoring or review.
- Think about asking friends in your same class to help you stay current. When you’re out for a medical appointment or other reason, ask if they can share their notes and/or e-mail you homework assignments.
- Talk to an adult (teacher or counselor) who you trust to help you get through the tough parts of school, and if you feel stuck, don’t give up.
- Need changes in your schedule or less PE? A note from your doctor to take to school can help you make these changes happen.
- Some treatment centers have special staff that can help kids with school problems. Social workers, doctors and nurses might also be able to help.
Click here to join
a Group Loop Online Support Group and connect with other
teens.
Thanks to Ernest Katz, Ph.D., Julia Challinor, RN, Ph.D., MA. ED., and Mitch Golant, Ph.D. for their
permission to use and adapt the above information.
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