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GOING BACK TO SCHOOL

If you've missed a lot of school for your cancer treatments, you might be thinking about how to get ready to go back. Fighting cancer is hard work! Going back to school is a big step in your treatment. You'll get to see your friends and teachers again, and go to your favorite classes. There's a lot to look forward to.

But, going back to school after cancer treatment can also be a little scary. Lots of kids feel nervous or worry about how hard it will be. It's normal to feel this way. Here are some tips that can help you feel brave and excited about going back to school.

• You might be nervous about telling other kids why you were away.
  If you missed a lot of school while you were having treatments, your friends and classmates might wonder where you were. You can tell them that you have cancer, and you were out of school getting treatments to make you better. They might want to know more about cancer or the kinds of treatments you were having. You can say that cancer is an illness, but you can't catch it like a cold or the flu.
  
  
• You may be worried that other kids will tease you about how you look.
  Your cancer treatments may have caused your hair to fall out. Maybe you lost or gained weight. You know that once your treatments are over, you will get back to normal. But, it can still be hard to go back to school knowing that you look different.
  
  

  Your classmates might ask you questions about how you look. They are probably not trying to tease you—they may just be curious. You can tell them: "I look different because of the medicine I take to treat my cancer. Once I stop taking it, I'll look like my old self again." Most kids will understand once you tell them about your cancer and cancer treatments.

  
  Some kids in your class won't understand, and they may tease you. If this happens, you can tell them that it's not your fault, and you don't like being teased. You can also walk away from them. Talk to your teacher if your classmates tease you. Your teacher can help.
  
  
• You may feel that you won't catch up with your schoolwork.
  You might have missed a lot of schoolwork while you were out of school. Now you're worried about catching up in your classes. Try talking to your teacher about it. Maybe you can work with a friend to get caught up. Your parents might also want to talk to your teacher about ways you can finish the schoolwork you missed while you were having treatments.
  

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