Other teachers here?

BioAdoptMom

I teach Kindergarten and was diagnosed this past January. So far I have only had a lumpectomy and re-excision. The only thing I told my children before I was out was that I was having a little operation and when I would be back at school. I found out on Friday afternoon I will be receiving chemo so needless to say, these kids are going to have to know something more. I will lose my hair now, be out more often, etc. What I want to know is, how did you present your info if you talked with your class? I am also planning to send home notes to the parents letting them know what is going on (just the basics). If you have any advice on that I would appreciate it as well.

Thanks in advance!

Nancy

Katmy

I would send a letter home
I would send a letter home to parents about DX and wanting to tell your students (with principal's OK). Invite the parents to tell you if they mind you speaking to the class as a whole or if they object. After parent approval, I would tell the kids what they are capable of understanding. The reason I would exercise such caution is because I have a friend who does not want her child to know to much about my chemo situation. It makes her very uncomfortable so I respect her wishes. Those kinds of parents are out there.

lynn1950

I am a teacher, but I work
I am a teacher, but I work with all ages of children and at the time I was going through surgery and chemo, most of my students were in 6th grade. They knew just what they needed to know when they needed to know it and they were wonderful, as were their parents. I had the kids send me jokes, telling them that laughter is the best medicine. Sixth grade humor: oh, my! Best wishes to you. xoxoxox Lynn

disneyfan2008

I am not a teacher
But just wanted to say How nice to think how to tell the kids to they understand!

Denise

cabbott

My thoughts
I would start by asking the principal since you work in a school. He or she may have some thoughts about what they would prefer you to say or not say. The principal is the one who will have your back should any parents have difficulty with you talking to them. Another person you may have to assist you with this would be an elementary counselor or family crisis worker if you have anyone like that at your school. Sometimes they have great books about cancer. Children of that age want to know how treatment will affect them as much as anything else. They may be totally satisfied if you just tell them you have to take a good but strong medicine that works to stop a bad problem. Let them know they cannot catch this problem and that the doctor says you will be taking this for about ... months. They will notice that your hair falls out from this medicine and that sometimes it makes you a bit tired, but that these are signs that the medicine is working. Assure them that your hair will grow back. If you are having a "tired" day, you may need to sit while you teach instead of stand. They can help by following rules just like they always do.

By the way, please be aware that your personnel officer can also help you if you need assistance during treatment. There are LOTS of guidelines these days about accomodating disabilities. Kids with IEPS and 504 plans aren't the only ones that get accomodations. Teachers with cancer can also get accomodations (including permission to teach sitting down if necessary! or time off on Friday afternoons to go to chemo sessions). Good luck!

lizzie17

after returning to work
I was very pale, weak and tired so easily. I had to sit down a lot more than I was accustomed to ...........I developed a chronic cough and my principal wanted me to tell them it is just my asthma (which I do have).

linpsu

Nancy
I taught a Pre-K class last year with children who were mostly 5 at the time of my diagnosis for a reoccurence of my BC. I wrote a letter to all the parents with my pertinent information (not too many details) saying that I didn't want the children to know that I was sick - I thought they were too young to deal with it. I explained that I had a sub lined up in case I was absent - it was a sub they already knew - and that I would be wearing a wig that was the same as my regular hair so that they should not see any difference. I did take off a few days here and there as I dealt with some bad side effects from the chemo. But I left it to the parents to deal with it at home in the way they felt comfortable for THEIR child. I did ask the parents to not discuss my situation at school at pick-up time in front of the children. They were all very understanding and I never had any issues with the kids asking me about being sick. Although I did have a little boy in my class shave his head for a fund-raising program for kids with cancer and it brought tears to my eyes - he was a little self-conscious about his bald head and I so much wanted to whip off my wig and show him that I was bald too, but I couldn't bring myself to scare the other children. That would have been way too disturbing for 5-year-olds, I think. Hope this helps.
Hugs, Linda

BioAdoptMom

linpsu said:

Nancy
I taught a Pre-K class last year with children who were mostly 5 at the time of my diagnosis for a reoccurence of my BC. I wrote a letter to all the parents with my pertinent information (not too many details) saying that I didn't want the children to know that I was sick - I thought they were too young to deal with it. I explained that I had a sub lined up in case I was absent - it was a sub they already knew - and that I would be wearing a wig that was the same as my regular hair so that they should not see any difference. I did take off a few days here and there as I dealt with some bad side effects from the chemo. But I left it to the parents to deal with it at home in the way they felt comfortable for THEIR child. I did ask the parents to not discuss my situation at school at pick-up time in front of the children. They were all very understanding and I never had any issues with the kids asking me about being sick. Although I did have a little boy in my class shave his head for a fund-raising program for kids with cancer and it brought tears to my eyes - he was a little self-conscious about his bald head and I so much wanted to whip off my wig and show him that I was bald too, but I couldn't bring myself to scare the other children. That would have been way too disturbing for 5-year-olds, I think. Hope this helps.
Hugs, Linda

Great suggestions and ideas!
Great suggestions and ideas! Our guidance counselor and I are close, so I am going to solicit her help and invite her to be present when I tell them the doctor wants me to take some strong medicine to help me get better, etc. I will also write that note to the parents, first.

Thanks sooooooooooooooooooo much!

Nancy

AMomNETN

Teacher
Nancy,
I was dx in Jan. of last year. I work with 7th and 8th graders (look at this as God's sense of humor). I told mine what was going on from when I knew what was going on. One student's mother has had bc. I had to tell them because I was at school when it was confirmed bc and I broke down crying. Students were mystified by me crying. I chose to have the results over the phone. My student were really super over it all. Many were more worried than I was. When one asked if I was going to die, another responded "Oh don't worry Ms. Dixon will live longer than anyone wants her too!" I rolled in the floor at that one. I've always had an open relationship with the students with zingers flying from all of us. I don't know about young ones but your plan seems like a winner to me. One idea for later is let them draw pictures of you now and then later. It would be an nice keepsake.
Janie