In the past 25 years, advances in the treatment of childhood cancer have greatly increased the number of pediatric cancer patients who are surviving their illnesses and entering adulthood. The cure rate for all childhood cancers is approximately 70%. It is now appropriate to redirect our energies from a focus on death to one on life. This shift in attitude and expectation makes it critical for the family, school, and larger community to assist young people with cancer in maintaining their continued involvement with normal life activities.

Given the serious nature of their disease and the intensive medical treatments required to combat it, young people with cancer are at risk of encountering difficulties upon re-entering the school setting. Most children with cancer will attend school while undergoing treatment but are likely to fall behind in their academic pursuits due to absences or fatigue. The child may experience visible side effects caused by the illness or treatment: hair loss; weight gain; or surgical disfigurement. Often these changes are temporary, but can elicit negative responses from peers and school personnel.

Friendships made at school support positive development outcomes. Studies indicate that the single best childhood predictor of adult adaptation is not school grades, or classroom behavior, but rather, how well the child gets along with other children. For children and adolescents, school provides the opportunity to master the social skills and educational competence necessary to actively contribute to society.

The formation of partnerships between the school, the hospital, and the family will assure that children who have faced cancer receive an education which will prepare them to be productive adults. Ultimately, the successful re-integration of children with cancer represents hope for the future.

For more information on Back to School issues and to order the Cancervive Teacher's Guide for Kids with Cancer or the Cancervive Back to School Kit, please contact Cancervive, Inc., email: info@cancersourcekids.com.Cancervive is a national cancer survivorship organization founded in 1985 by childhood cancer survivor Susan Nessim. The organization provides counseling, public education, and advocacy. Cancervive Teacher's Guide for Kids with Cancer Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What You Should Know about Childhood Cancer
3. The Emotional Impact of Childhood Cancer
4. Preparation for Return to School
5. Back to School
6. Resources