“When Aurelia told her friends “I have a tumor”, they would come back to school the next day saying “you’re going to die, because people with tumors, they die.” It’s normal, we don’t blame them, they’re five years old. But it showed us just how much we had to explain.” – Stéphanie, Aurélia’s mom
To mark International Childhood Cancer Day, we would like to highlight a little-known aspect of pediatric cancer: the return to school.
Seeing friends again, getting back into the routine… but also facing stares, questions and, often, misunderstanding. For a child undergoing treatment, returning to the classroom is a crucial but often challenging step.
“Some kids are simply terrified of going back to school”, explains Christelle, Family Advisor at Leucan.
Every child experiences their return differently. Some can’t wait, others are afraid. The long absence, the treatments, the loss of hair… all this makes their return to the classroom a delicate moment.
And their friends? They have a thousand questions: Will their hair grow back? Can I catch their cancer like a cold? Will they die?
These are heavy questions for a child undergoing treatment.
That’s where Leucan comes in…
Leucan advisors go into classrooms to prepare the ground, explain and reassure. They use simple words and age-appropriate tools.
“Aurelia told us that she tried to explain to the other children what she had, but they didn’t understand. People from Leucan come with books and pictures. They take their time. And since it’s coming from an external source, the kids are interested and ask the advisor questions,” says Stéphanie.
Leucan’s advisors also helps the school and its staff to adapt the child’s school environment and schedule (rest areas, medication, physical education accommodations, etc.).
But above all, these school interventions enable children to regain their confidence, and to take ownership of their condition in front of their peers, as Lucie, a family advisor at Leucan, explains:
“A few years ago, I accompanied a young boy on his first day of high school. He hadn’t been able to start the year with his friends because of treatment, so the stress was double. He was still struggling to come to terms with his hair loss and was constantly wearing a hat, very concerned about the way others looked at him. After I spoke to the class, he took off his hat in front of the other students and said: “I don’t need it anymore, I feel understood and safe with you”. I’ll always remember that moment, I was really moved. I knew that day we had made a difference.”
The school awareness program is an invaluable resource.
For the child. For the parents. For the school.
This service only exists thanks to you and your generosity.
It allows children like Aurelia to return to school in a welcoming environment adapted to their reality. And it gives parents a break. THANK YOU for being there for our families.
