From textbooks to treatment: Navigating education challenges alongside cancer
Just because you've been diagnosed with cancer during your education doesn't mean you should be held back. Here's everything you need to know about living life alongside cancer and education
Cancer and education aren't an ideal mix, but because you’re protected by The Equalities Act 2010, your school or uni can make reasonable adjustments to support you and your education. ‘Reasonable adjustments’ just means doing things that make managing your condition alongside education easier. Find out if your school or uni has a disability service and get in touch with them as soon as possible. They can make sure you’re getting everything you need to make the most of your education as a young person with cancer. They’ll also be able to tell you if you’re entitled to any additional financial support and help you apply for it.
Being diagnosed with cancer when you’re at school or uni can feel like a massive obstacle in the way of your education. There are ways to make sure you get the right support and it’s helpful to know what your rights are.
Once you’re diagnosed with cancer, you’re protected under The Equality Act 2010, meaning you can’t be discriminated against as a result of your condition. You don’t have to tell anyone at college or university (or work for that matter) about your medical history, but if you do, it might help you get the support you need. Workplaces, schools, colleges and universities can all make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to help you do your job or learn.
At University
If you’re diagnosed with cancer when you’re at university, your organisation might have a disability service that can help keep your learning on the right course. You may also be able to access a disability advisor who can help you figure out what makes studying tricky and what might help. If you need to provide evidence of your condition, they’ll be able to tell you what. Chat to your tutor to see what help your university or college offer.
At school
Much like at university, being diagnosed with cancer shouldn’t impact your opportunities to learn. Your school will be able to suggest ways they can support you with your studies as you live life alongside cancer.
It can be useful to talk to your healthcare team about how you may feel physically and mentally because of treatment. Then school will be able to figure out the best ways to support you. For example, you might need to start school later or finish earlier to manage your fatigue. Some home study may be appropriate if your immune system is compromised.
Your form teacher or head of year is often a good place to go first to have these conversations. And don’t forget to speak to your parents about what you need too.
If you’re in hospital
Talk to your team about how you might be able to continue with your school or university work. Some hospitals that specialise in treating young people have teachers on site to help you. They can keep in touch with your regular school and help you keep up if you’re in hospital for a long time. If you’re at university, your disability advisor may be able to help.
Reasonable adjustments
You may find you have more difficulties at school, college or university as a result of your cancer treatment. You might struggle with fatigue, memory problems, concentration or your mental and emotional wellbeing. Because you’re protected by The Equality Act after a cancer diagnosis, your education provider can make reasonable adjustments to support your learning. Depending on your situation, this could mean:
- Offering you more time for assignments
- Helping you plan your timetable
- Permission to record your lectures or classes
- More flexibility around attendance
- Providing ways to catch up if you miss lectures
- Offering a place to rest in case you need it
- A parking space on campus
- Support from staff if you need it
Disabled Students’ Allowance
You may be able to get Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) if you’re studying for a BA, BSc or Masters. DSA could give you money for any extra support or equipment you might need to make your study more accessible. The disability service at your university can help you apply and create a support agreement to make sure you’re getting everything you need.
Returning to uni if you take time out
Some people may be able to stay at uni while they’re going through cancer treatment. For others, cancer and education don’t work well at the same time. If you’re facing returning to uni after cancer treatment, you might feel anxious or worried about what it’ll be like. But there are things you can do to make the process more manageable:
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re struggling. Your teachers, tutors or advisors will be able to advise you on what they need from you and how they can help
- Try not to feel pressured into doing things you don’t feel like doing. If your mates are going to the pub but you don’t feel up to it, it’s important not to force yourself
- Returning to uni is a marathon, not a sprint. Take the time to prioritise your wellbeing so you can make the most of your return
- Try not to worry about feeling like you’re falling behind. Part of the juggle with uni and life after cancer is finding the balance that works for you. This can take time.
- Reach out to people – whether your student wellbeing officer or a disability advisor
- Remember your values and priorities may change following a cancer diagnosis. That’s OK! If you’re craving a change of direction chat to your tutor or your advisor.
Other resources
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. We wanted to share some resources which might be useful for those living life alongside Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Conversations around cancer aren't always easy. Whether you're talking to your pals, loved ones, partner or even your medical team, knowing how to deal with topics that might feel tricky can go a long way in helping you manage your relationships. Check out our top tips for having those difficult conversations.
Whether you're dating, in a serious relationship, having a bit of fun or committed to be together for the rest of your lives, when your partner's diagnosed with cancer it can bring some big challenges along. Suddenly you've both got a lot to deal with. Working out how to support each other, and yourselves, is key for moving forward.
Lifting the Lid aims to create a safe environment to delve into important topics, while letting our community of people living life alongside cancer know that there are experts on hand who understand their experiences. Check out the full library
.png)
If you’re the parent of someone in our community with cancer, we know there’s not a lot of information out there to support you. We explore how you might be feeling, how you can help and how to take care of yourself in amongst it all.
When you’re in your 20s or 30s and you’re diagnosed with cancer, lots of things change. One of the things you’ve told us can be most difficult, is navigating friendships in life alongside cancer. We unpick the gnarly topic of friendship and cancer, offering tips and advice for managing your relationships.
Whether you love it or hate it, exercising beyond a cancer diagnosis can be hugely beneficial. We look at the things that might be stopping you from exercising and help unpick how to tackle them
Sean was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma when he was 28. At the time, he was a self-employed personal trainer and found that his cancer caused paralysing pain. Now, Sean is back on his fitness journey and has joined us as a RENEW trainer. He shares the story of his experience from patient to cancer exercise specialist with us.
What do you need to know about food and cancer? It's the wild, wild West out there, so we worked with some brill experts and friends to bring you everything you need to know. Our guide is a no-nonsense, evidence based guide designed with you in mind.
Navigating sex and cancer is a minefield. Whether you’re trying to do the deed after diagnosis, you’re living with cancer or you’re in the realms of that elusive new normal we hear so much about, the truth is, the whole thing can be, well...Tricky. Here's our tips on sex and cancer
Parenting is tough enough without adding cancer into the mix. While there's no single formula that can make parenting through cancer easy; there are some practical tools, strategies, resources and services that can help.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis in your 20s or 30s is hard enough. When you are from the LGBTQIA+ community there can be a number of issues you may face. One of these may be your sex life and sexual health. Stewart from LGBTQIA+ cancer support charity OUTpatients and experts share their tips and advice that can help you navigate sex after cancer.
Menopause is a common but not often discussed side effect of breast cancer treatment. Stacey didn't realise how much her menopausal symptoms were impacting her until she joined Trekstock's menopause programme.
.webp)
Lydia's cancer diagnosis when she was 24 meant she had to undergo a complete hysterectomy – having her uterus and cervix removed. As a result, she found herself facing the menopause. Here’s her story on how she’s reached an understanding with her symptoms.
Exercise and cancer don't seem like ideal partners. But the truth is they go together exceptionally well. Exercise has tonnes of benefits for those going through cancer treatment and living with any long term impacts. Exercise physiologist Tom Cowan explains the benefits of exercising with cancer and shares the best ways to make it work for you.
.jpg)
Living life alongside cancer when you’re in your 20s or 30s brings its own unique set of challenges. But we exist to help you make the most of the parallel lives you’re living as both patient and person. Here’s a rundown of everything we offer.
We're able to consume more content and information than ever before. A world of news, dating apps and online shopping is always just a few seconds away. But humans have not evolved to handle this kind of consumption. We're still in the process of figuring out what exactly it does to us. This year's Men's Mental Health Week is focusing on the internet and its impact on male mental health
There are loads of ways to nurture body confidence, even with cancer in the mix. We're here to support you every step of the way, providing resources to enhance both your physical and mental well-being. Together, we can help you embrace self-love and find a sense of comfort in your own skin, even in the face of cancer.
So you’ve just been told you’ve got cancer. And then you’re told your ability to have kids in the future might be impacted too. Because cancer’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Finding out you might be infertile because of your cancer treatment can have a huge emotional impact. Even if kids are the last thing on your mind, making sense of having this decision taken away from you is important. If you’re experiencing fertility issues and it’s impacting your mental health, it’s OK. There are people and organisations out there designed to help.
Tips for opening up about your health at work - from what your rights are to how to talk to your employer and what to do if you decide to stop working.
.webp)
Ambassador Carolina shares what the Trekstock community means to her and how she found support from people who'd been through cancer treatment at a young age.
Because navigating friendships in your 20s or 30s is hard enough without cancer.
No matter who you are, the physical changes that might occur because of cancer or its treatments can be really difficult. Whether you're dealing with nausea, hair loss, early menopause or anything else, learning how to manage these impacts is key to a better quality of life.
Cancer’s an emotional rollercoaster. It’s OK to find it tough to cope.