According to US News and World Report, a new study has shown that poor physical or mental health as a teenager can lead to increased challenges in completing education and finding employment. I took one look at the headline of the article and "CANCER" just went flying through my mind. It's quite an obvious chain of events when thinking about it from the cancer perspective, and therefore an incredibly important issue to consider, especially when recently diagnosed with cancer as a teen. I encourage you to check out the article and read about the study HERE. Note the key phrases and words "miss more school", "socially excluded", "stigmatization", "negative impact", etc. To clarify the reason this issue is so important in the long run, I've made a little diagram because visuals are always good :)
With all of that in mind, it is incredibly important to consider your education and work situation as soon as possible after your diagnosis. Contacting your teachers or professors, communicating with your boss/coworkers, and understanding your impending physical limitations are all critical. When I was diagnosed, my doctor made it clear my treatment would completely destroy my immune system, so attending school would literally put my life in danger because of how it would expose me to potential infections. However, everyone's treatments are different, so it is important to talk to your doctor about how your treatment will affect you physically so that you can prepare. For example, when I found out how my treatment would affect my immune system, my parents and I decided it would be best for me not to attend my 8th grade year. So, we got in contact with my school's principal and all my teachers to let them know. Additionally, I spoke with my medical team about options for keeping up with school, and learned about the Home/Hospital teaching program available in the county in which I live.
While I was fortunate to have that option, such programs are not always available. So, if you find yourself without access to such a program, I recommend reaching out to local cancer support organizations, particularly ones for teens/young adults. It is possible they may have volunteers that are retired teachers, or simply volunteers with education credentials, that may be able to help you with keeping up with classes. Extra communication with teachers at your school is also important in such a case too because they can help to adjust your work or develop an altered education plan for you.
I think education is essential when going through cancer treatment because it provides an outlet for you to channel your mental energy (since you probably won't have much physical energy) and, most importantly, it is the greatest tool you have to set goals and a direction for your life after treatment.
While I was fortunate to have that option, such programs are not always available. So, if you find yourself without access to such a program, I recommend reaching out to local cancer support organizations, particularly ones for teens/young adults. It is possible they may have volunteers that are retired teachers, or simply volunteers with education credentials, that may be able to help you with keeping up with classes. Extra communication with teachers at your school is also important in such a case too because they can help to adjust your work or develop an altered education plan for you.
I think education is essential when going through cancer treatment because it provides an outlet for you to channel your mental energy (since you probably won't have much physical energy) and, most importantly, it is the greatest tool you have to set goals and a direction for your life after treatment.
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