Easing the transition for the child with cancer returning to the classroom...

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has resources available to assist with the re-entry process of a child returning to school after cancer treatment.  Information is available for students, parents, educators and healthcare professionals.

To order any of the resources listed below, contact Nancy Day, our Patient Services Manager at (703) 399-2959 or email Nancy.Day@LLS.org


Cancervive Teacher's Guide for Kids with Cancer is a free booklet for parents and teachers, published by Cancervive and written by Susan Nessim, a childhood cancer survivor, and Ernest Katz, a child psychologist. Supplies are limited.

Learning & Living with Cancer: Advocating for your child's educational needs provides an overview of some of the challenges pediatric cancer patients can face when returning to school.  The booklet also summarizes the federal laws that help protect the rights of students with educational needs resulting from cancer treatment.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia discusses symptoms, prognosis, treatment and psychological responses to a confirmed diagnosis, based on current research.

The Lymphomas (Hodgkin & non-Hodgkin) is a booklet that discusses symptoms, prognosis, treatment and psychological responses to a confirmed diagnosis, based on current research. Los Linfomas is also available.

Understanding Leukemia is an easy-to-read booklet that explains leukemia and its symptoms, treatment and probable causes.  La Leucemia is also available.

The Lymphomas: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers is an easy-to-read booklet that explains lymphoma and its symptoms, treatment and probable causes.  Los Linfomas: Guia para pacientes y sus familiars is also available.

The Stem Cell Transplant Coloring Book is for children with blood cancer who are coping with having a stem cell transplant.  It is also for other young stem cell transplant patients, siblings, friends and classmates of the young patient and for children with a parent who is having a stem cell transplant.  The pictures and activity pages depict the experiences of two young stem cell transplant patients.  Through these experiences, the coloring book provides support and encouragement.

The Emotional Aspects of Childhood Blood Cancers is a booklet primarily for parents.  It outlines a wide range of psychosocial aspects associated with childhood leukemia and lymphoma, including how to talk to children about the diagnosis, sibling relationships and returning to normal life when treatment ends.  Stories about families confronted with childhood blood cancers are also included.  Aspectos Emocionales de la Leucemia Infantil is also available.

Why, Charlie Brown, Why? is a video for young, school-aged children, featuring characters from Peanuts, produced by Charles Schultz and United Media. Supplies are limited and may be available free of charge or on a lending basis.

Making the Grade--Back to School After Cancer for Teens is a video for teens, produced in 1999 by Cancervive with funding from the Johnny Mercer Foundation.  Supplies are limited and may be available free of charge or on a lending basis.

Webisodes are online animated stories produced by the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation with funding from a variety of organizations including The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Webisodes are intended to answer some questions a teen cancer patient might have.  Topics include The Diagnosis, Side Effects, Telling your Friends, When your Hair Comes Out, Making Tough Decisions, and Celebrating your Last Treatment. Webisodes are available at www.slsb.org/chemo.

Special School Instructions for Pediatric Oncology Patients is a two-page form, available on paper or as an electronic file, from the National Capital Area chapter. It can be used by healthcare professionals to communicate information about a child's treatment to school personnel.

Sample letters to teachers, peer parents, and after-school program leaders, as well as educational activity packets for patient peers of all ages, are available by contacting the National Capital Area Chapter.

In addition to these materials, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society hosts an annual Back to School Conference to provide practical suggestions for parents, teachers, school nurses, school counselors and other school personnel helping a child transition back to school after cancer treatment. 

School Instructions - School Instructions for Pediatric Oncology Patients

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