cancer in college

alyssasue
alyssasue Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Young Cancer Survivors #1
I was recently diagnosed with cancer and have been going through treatment for about six weeks now. I go back to college in 3 weeks. I'm trying to decide if it is a good idea. I am a Resident Assistant as well. Is it possible to be in classes and still go through treatment or should I take some time of??

Comments

  • rthornton
    rthornton Member Posts: 346 Member
    #2
    For the past couple of years, I've been working through a graduate program while getting chemotherapy, three surgical procedures, etc. I liked staying in classes, even if sometimes I have had to lighten the load. Staying active in the graduate program has given me other things to think about, keeping my focused on things other than treatment. I'd have gone crazy long ago if just sitting around the house!

    Rodney
  • dutch_poppy
    dutch_poppy Member Posts: 7
    #3
    hi Alyssasue, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer just before my final year in school. I went back to college a couple of weeks after surgery and did manage to pass out the year and get a university place, but I was very tired and followed a cut down program for a while. I agree with Rodney, in my experience, too, being in classes helped me to focus on something else. It depends of course on the type of cancer you have and how it is being treated. And of course, Your Mileage May Vary (YMMV). Talking about it with other people can help, especially other students who are going through or have been through something similar - check if there is a student support group in your college.

    Poppy
    pap thy ca + lymph nodes
    dx 1965 tx 1965 and 1982
  • dutch_poppy
    dutch_poppy Member Posts: 7
    #4
    hi Alyssasue, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer just before my final year in school. I went back to school a couple of weeks after surgery and did manage to pass out the year and get a university place, but I was very tired and followed a cut down program for a while. I agree with Rodney, in my experience, too, being in classes helped me to focus on something else. It depends of course on the type of cancer you have and how it is being treated. And of course, Your Mileage May Vary (YMMV). Listen to what your body is saying and don't try and push it too far too fast. Talking about it with other people can help, especially if you can find other students who are going through or have been through something similar - check if there is a student cancer support group in your college.

    Good luck!

    Poppy
    pap thy ca + lymph nodes
  • Job01
    Job01 Member Posts: 5
    #5
    dutch_poppy said:

    hi Alyssasue, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer just before my final year in school. I went back to school a couple of weeks after surgery and did manage to pass out the year and get a university place, but I was very tired and followed a cut down program for a while. I agree with Rodney, in my experience, too, being in classes helped me to focus on something else. It depends of course on the type of cancer you have and how it is being treated. And of course, Your Mileage May Vary (YMMV). Listen to what your body is saying and don't try and push it too far too fast. Talking about it with other people can help, especially if you can find other students who are going through or have been through something similar - check if there is a student cancer support group in your college.

    Good luck!

    Poppy
    pap thy ca + lymph nodes

    Dutch Poppy, are you from the Netherlands. Would you like to have direct email contact. I'm looking for some Thyroid Cancer "colleagues" to discuss the difference treatments, doctors and things we experience. Job
  • erolyn
    erolyn Member Posts: 21
    #6
    Job01 said:

    Dutch Poppy, are you from the Netherlands. Would you like to have direct email contact. I'm looking for some Thyroid Cancer "colleagues" to discuss the difference treatments, doctors and things we experience. Job

    I'm also a college student with thyroid cancer...I'd love to talk to you both if you're interested, I've been looking for other people my age to chat with about it.

    In response to the original poster: All of my professors and the school staff were REALLY helpful and flexible about me getting my work done and finishing the semester after my surgery and biopsy and whatnot. Try emailing your academic advisor and the dean of students, they can probably help you email your professors. Also talking to them in person sometimes helps. You can do some work from home (readings and whatnot), and hopefully most professors will be flexible about due dates and turning things in via email. Good luck...I hope that helped :)

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