Returning to School After Cancer

For young adult undergraduate or graduate students who took time off during treatment, returning to school involves both practical and emotional considerations. Once you are ready to return, there are steps you can take to ease the transition back to school.

Communicating with the school

Before your return, it is recommended that you meet with school personnel to discuss your transition. Most colleges and universities have an office of student affairs that oversees issues and resources related to student life. The student affairs office can help coordinate your return to school and help you explore available health resources, financial aid resources, and career planning services. Consider meeting with an academic advisor to discuss your course choices and progress toward your degree.

The following are some of the areas you may wish to discuss:

The possibility of taking a reduced course load
Attendance issues, especially if you will still be going to doctors' appointments
Availability of services and accommodations for students with disabilities, if applicable
Availability of student health services and student health insurance

It is also advisable to meet with medical staff in the student health association to discuss your cancer treatment, current situation, and expected needs for follow-up care. Most college health centers will want to do everything they can to help with your transition back to school. They also will appreciate being kept current on your medical condition. Discuss the following with the college medical staff:

Your medical history, including specific diagnosis, treatment, current medications, expected follow-up care needs, and oncologist contact information
A copy of your medical history details that you can leave with them, such as a CD (if possible) or written summary
How to coordinate your care between the college health staff and your oncologist
How to inform your teachers about any special needs and potential problems in the classroom

School and learning

Some students find that resuming schoolwork poses new challenges. Although rare, some cancers and treatments can cause learning problems, such as difficulties with concentration, memory, reading comprehension, or handwriting. Some of these problems may be temporary, but some can be long term.

Not everyone will experience learning problems, but if you are having difficulties, ask for help. Talk openly with your doctor about any difficulties you are having and ask for advice on how to cope. Your doctor can also help you work with your college or university to obtain services or accommodations if you have a learning disability. Federal laws, including the Americans With Disabilities Act allow students with disabilities to receive accommodations. Accommodations may include extended time to complete tests, audio textbooks, free tutoring, or modified housing. A medical professional must document any disabilities and the student must request the accommodations.

Whether you talk with your instructors about your cancer experience is up to you. You may not be comfortable talking about the details and may not feel it is relevant to your academic performance. If you decide to tell your instructors about your cancer experience, they may be able to help you (informally) by allowing you extra time to complete assignments or providing you copies of their lecture notes. If you are requesting formal accommodations or disability services, your instructors will be informed by the school of any relevant details of your disability.

Making the adjustment

It is natural to want to jump right in and get back to your normal schedule, but going back to school can be physically and emotionally tiring. Take it easy at first and do not overdo things; your health is still the most important priority. Here are some more recommendations for going back to school:

Get in touch with a few of your friends from school and ask them to fill you in on any changes on campus.
Think about "visiting" school before going back full or part time. Attend a few social events, such as a party or a sports game, or spend some time on campus just hanging out with your friends.
Ask a friend to meet you on campus the first few days to give you emotional support.
Be prepared for questions and know what you are going to say.
Be prepared for insensitive comments or questions, and try not to take them personally.
Consider joining a support group for young adults with cancer who may share similar experiences.

More Information

Cancer.Net: Cancer in Young Adults