Cancer in the School Community A guide for staff members Cancer in the School Community A guide for staff members First published March 2008 © The Cancer Council New South Wales 2008 ISBN 978-1-921041-65-8 Writer and Editor: Laura Wuellner Designer: Suzanne Pye, Starfish Design Cartoonist: Greg Smith Cover art: Katherine Chadwick, Designland Contributor: Carol Fallows Series editor: Alyssa White Director, Cancer Information and Support Services: Gillian Batt Manager, Supportive Care Development Unit: Dr Kendra Sundquist Images on pages 8 and 9 courtesy of The Cancer Council Victoria. Table on pages 18 to 21 and “Gemma” case study on page 43 adapted from When a Parent Has Cancer: how to talk to your kids (The Cancer Council NSW, August 2007, pages 16 to 17 and 21). Acknowledgements We are grateful to many school staff members, parents and young people, whose real-life stories have added to the richness and relevance of this book. We thank the expert reviewers: Warwick Chipman, Professional Officer, NSW Secondary Principals Council; Leigh Kurth, Senior Project and Services Officer, Redkite; Kate Lovelace, Student Health Coordinator, NSW Department of Education and Training; Jeremy Medlock, consumer; Katrina Sheraton-Yu, Education Program Coordinator, Back on Track; Dr Michael Stevens AM FRACP , Senior Staff Specialist, Oncology Unit, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead; Tim Rogers, General Manager, National Services, Redkite; Jane Turner, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Queensland; Maria Twigg, Grant and Projects Manager, Redkite; and Daphne Walshe, Oncology Community Clinical Nurse Consultant. We also thank staff members of private and public schools across NSW, and employees of The Cancer Council NSW. Your feedback has been instrumental in the development of this book. The Cancer Council New South Wales The Cancer Council is the leading cancer charity in NSW. It plays a unique and important role in the fight against cancer through undertaking high-quality research, advocating on cancer issues, providing information and services to the public and people with cancer, and raising funds for cancer programs. This booklet is funded through the generosity of the people of NSW. To make a donation to help defeat cancer, visit the Cancer Council’s website at www.cancercouncil.com.au or phone 1300 780 113. Before commencing any health treatment, always consult your doctor. This booklet is intended as a general introduction to the topic and should not be seen as a substitute for your own doctor’s or health professional’s advice. All care is taken to ensure that the information contained here is accurate at the time of publication. The Cancer Council New South Wales 153 Dowling Street Woolloomooloo NSW 2011 Cancer Council Helpline: 13 11 20 Telephone: (02) 9334 1900 Facsimile: (02) 9334 1741 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cancercouncil.com.au About this book Who this book is for Cancer in the School Community is a resource wide range of people. This book will also for public and private school staff members be useful for parents, students and family who would like to better support students, members. parents and colleagues with cancer. We hope it will provide you with the information and Cancer affects not only an individual and tools you need to understand and respond to their immediate family, but also has a ripple issues that arise when someone you know is effect throughout the school community. It affected by cancer. can help to acknowledge your feelings and work through them with the help of others Although this book was written for an and by using resources from organisations audience of public and private school staff including the Cancer Council NSW. members, the content is also relevant to a How this book was developed Cancer in the School Community evolved from interviews with experts in oncology – To avoid gender-specific references, we have such as oncologists, nurses, social workers, used third person plural pronouns (“they”, pyschologists and counsellors – school “their”) in place of third person singular pronouns (“his or her”, “him or her”) throughout this staff members, family members, CanTeen, publication. Camp Quality, the NSW Department of Education and Training, hospital school staff and students. The quotations and stories in this book are authentic, however some names have been changed to protect people’s privacy. How to use this book This publication is a resource and starting Please keep in mind that Chapter 7: Cancer, point for those seeking information and death and the school community may be advice about supporting someone with confronting for some readers, and may not cancer. There are practical strategies for be applicable to your school community. supporting colleagues, parents or students with cancer, and there is information about cancer, grief and support resources. The double-page spread Cancer in the school While you may choose to read the book in community: 10 ways your school can help one sitting, we encourage you to read each can be photocopied and distributed to start chapter as it becomes relevant to your discussions about cancer (see pages 4 to 5). school. Each section explores a particular You can also contact the Cancer Council issue your school community might address Helpline on 13 11 20 for one-on-one advice. – for example, if a staff member has cancer. Contents Cancer in the school community: 10 ways your school can help 4 A snapshot of the best strategies for supporting a person with cancer. You may distribute copies of this section within your school community to start discussions. Chapter One: Information about cancer 7 An introduction to cancer. This section includes information about common types of cancer treatments and their side effects. Chapter Two: Talking about cancer 13 Information to help you talk to different audiences about cancer. It includes strategies for respecting a family’s privacy and appointing a liaison person. Chapter Three: When a student has cancer 23 Ways for you to support a student through all stages of their cancer and help classmates understand what is happening. Chapter Four: When a parent has cancer 39 Information about how a family member’s cancer can affect students, and tips about how your school can support the family. Chapter Five: When a staff member has cancer 45 Facts about how cancer may impact a staff member’s life and how your school can help support someone at any stage of their illness. Chapter Six: A principal’s guide for supporting staff 51 Tailored advice for principals on how to support colleagues with cancer, including ways to reduce someone’s cancer-related stress and how to address HR concerns. Chapter Seven: Cancer, death and the school community 57 Guidance about students’ understanding of death, ways to prepare for death, and how to help the bereaved. It also advises on how to plan a memorial service. Chapter Eight: Events and fundraising 67 Details about ways to raise cancer awareness in your community. This includes information about fundraising and organising a cancer awareness presentation. Chapter Nine: Support services, resources and information 71 Contact details for the Cancer Council and other support organisations. This section also contains websites for further information and sample letters. Chapter Ten: Glossary and chapter index 79 Information about how to define common cancer-related words for people of all ages, and an index to help you navigate this book. Cancer in the school community: 10 ways your school can help Respect a family’s wishes Appoint a liaison person Everyone has a different preference about what information Help a family affected by they’d like to share with others, cancer by appointing a single who they want informed and point of contact within your when they want to share news. school. This liaison person can Be sure to respect someone’s keep up with a family’s ongoing wishes and ask for their input, needs and ensure information particularly if they want to keep isn’t duplicated or overlooked. their diagnosis private. Be flexible School or work may be the last thing a person thinks about when they are diagnosed with cancer. Keep in touch Remember, a person’s schedule Stay in touch with the person and expectations may change, and who is absent, if they would like your school should try to to maintain contact. Peer support accommodate these changes. and friendships can provide a welcome relief from thinking about cancer. Keeping in touch also gives the person with cancer an opportunity to discuss any concerns that may arise. Be ready to help When you make yourself available to a person with cancer, they may feel more confident asking for assistance. Your school’s welfare or learning support officer can also provide support. 4 The Cancer Council NSW Cancer in the school community: 10 ways your school can help Empower the person Acknowledgewith that cancer the person with cancer is the expert when it comes to their illness. You can also help by maintaining normality as much as Utilise school networks possible and communicating openly. Involve key members of your school network, such as student welfare staff, P&C representatives and ancillary staff when you are developing strategies for supporting people with cancer in your school community. Set up strategies Your school’s student welfare team or learning support team has experience working with students, families and staff members. Tap into their knowledge about the best ways to support a person with cancer. Be sensitive to different cultural groups Raise cancer awareness People from different cultural Establishing links to cancer backgrounds have their own in core curriculum or exploring attitudes and understanding of other ways to present cancer, and it is important to be information about cancer can aware that these may not be help raise awareness in your the same as your own.