When a staff member has cancer

If a staff member in your school has been diagnosed with cancer, it can affect every aspect of their life, including their employment. The staff member may have to take extended leave from work, and could need support from the school community during and after treatment.

Learn more about:

• How cancer affects the staff member
• Choosing to tell parents and students
• How people may react
• Keeping in touch with the teacher
• How parents can help
• Cancer in the workplace
• Dealing with side effects
• The role of the principal

How cancer affects the staff member

Work is an important part of life for most people – besides income, working at school may provide satisfaction, enjoyable challenges, and a chance to mix with people from different age groups and backgrounds.

When one of your colleagues is diagnosed with cancer, they have to make many decisions:

Many school staff are also parents, and this adds to their stress when they have cancer. They will probably be preoccupied with managing changes at home and may need particular understanding from their workplace.

Some of my colleagues were so uncomfortable they didn’t even talk about it. I don’t think they had a lack of concern, I just think they had no idea what to say.

– Read more of Shirley’s story

Choosing to tell parents and students

Although a staff member is not obligated to tell parents and students about their diagnosis, they may choose to share some information. This can be particularly helpful in smaller communities, where the staff member may be confronted with questions about their absence if they run into students and parents at the shops or other local places.

The staff member could discuss how to tell the school community with appropriate colleagues, such as the school principal, counsellor, student wellbeing team and/or staff wellbeing officer.

Most parents will appreciate a straightforward approach. Parents can be contacted by letter, email or phone; a parent group such as the P&C or P&F could be asked to relay the news; or parents can be invited to a meeting.

It’s a good idea to let the parents know if the teacher plans to be away and for how long. The principal can also explain how the school plans to manage the teacher’s work.

Telling students requires a sensitive approach. Remember, students come from all types of backgrounds, so some of them may not know much about cancer and others may have a personal experience with it. A young person’s age and maturity also affect their level of understanding.

Plan what to say to students in advance and prepare answers to any likely questions. It is wise to send a letter or email home to parents so they know that their children might want to talk about their teacher’s cancer. Any letter should include contact details for appropriate support services and resources.

How people may react

When people in your school community learn about a colleague’s cancer, there will be a variety of reactions. Many people wish to be supportive but are unsure what to say or do. Some people will ask questions or be extremely helpful; others will pretend they don’t know or will go out of their way to avoid the person with cancer.

On rare occasions, there may be parents who will make it clear they don’t want their child in the class of a teacher who has cancer because they believe their child’s schooling will be disrupted. In this case, the principal can explain how the school plans to maintain the student’s schedules.

If any member of your school community reacts in an insensitive manner to the news of the diagnosis, or how the school plans to manage the absence, speak to the principal or staff wellbeing officer.

The principal can assist students and parents who want to find out more about cancer or would like to access counselling services. See Further support for a list of reliable organisations and websites.

How parents can help

If parents are aware of your colleague’s cancer, they might offer to help in various ways. The school could appoint a contact person to manage these offers. The contact person can check what sort of help, if any, the colleague would like from parents and then coordinate the support.

Depending on school policy, a parent’s assistance in the classroom may be helpful at this time. The principal can clarify whether this is allowed and what clearances (e.g. Working with Children Check) are needed, and the teacher can decide if it would be welcome.

Many teachers have their own personal support network outside the school community and may prefer to keep their professional and personal lives separate. However, others gratefully accept offers such as a meal roster or help with their own children.

If a teacher with cancer does not want direct support, you can check whether they would be happy for your school to host a general cancer awareness or fundraising event.

→ READ MORE: Cancer in the workplace