All children and young people in the UK have the right to education regardless of their race, gender or disability.
Your cancer treatment may have disrupted your education. Schools should be supportive, and you should speak to your tutors or Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) if you feel you need extra help in any area at school.
Careers advisors can be a very good source of information if you have to change direction because of your treatment. They may be able to suggest other ways you can be involved in the area you had originally chosen.
If you are applying to university or college an excellent place to start looking for information is via the UCAS website. There are sections for students, parents, colleges, schools and educators. It explains which courses are available at which universities, how to apply, the qualifications needed, as well as the availability of Access to HE courses.
Usually, colleges and universities try to be helpful to students with disabilities or chronic health problems. Difficulties are most likely to result from practical problems such as physical access to buildings, but this is improving as a result of legislation. A letter from your follow-up doctor can be helpful.
Disability Rights UK offers a wealth of information for young people and adults with any kind of disability in post-16 education, training and employment across the UK. The DSA (Disabled Student Allowance) is designed to pay for extra costs which disabled students may incur (see GOV.UK and nidirect for Northern Ireland).
Following treatment, you may have changed your plans about your career. The National Careers Service offer support with learning about careers and finding courses and training to find a job that’s right for you. They also provide help and advice on where to look for jobs, how to apply, CV writing and interviews. For more information, please visit the National Careers Service.
More information about free online training opportunities can also be found at the following:
Volunteering can be helpful to gain experience, build up your work stamina and improve your CV. If you want to find out about local volunteering opportunities, Volunteering England gives information about different voluntary organisations.
If you have a health condition or disability that affects your ability to work, you can speak to a Work Coach at your local Jobcentre Plus, who will be able to provide guidance and assistance. They will work with you to agree a plan of action which may include training, linking with Access to Work or the Work and Health programme. They may also be able to provide a referral to a specialist work psychologist if needed. You can find more information on the Job Centre Guide website.
Scope provides a support program for people with a range of disabilities where dedicated employment advisors help with skills to prepare for work. For more information visit the Scope website.
You may be worried about whether your condition or disability will affect your chances and if/when is the right time to let your employer know about it. You may find the following websites helpful:
- www.gov.uk/rights-disabled-person/employment
- www.acas.org.uk/reasonable-adjustments
- www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/finding-jobs/
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about education and jobs after treatment for cancer.
Your cancer treatment may have disrupted your education, particularly if you were a teenager when you were treated. Schools should be supportive. Speak to your school SENCO if you need additional support at school. Careers advisors can be a very good source of information if you have to change direction because of your treatment.
The Armed Forces have strict guidelines about people joining up, particularly those wishing to join the RAF as aircrew. In the past it has been very difficult for people who have been treated for cancer to be accepted into the Forces.
They state clearly that anyone who joins needs to be medically fit and able to serve worldwide. Training will be physically demanding and mentally taxing and new recruits must be able to meet the challenge.
Each application is assessed individually but you will be asked to declare information about your past medical history and have a medical examination with one of the Forces doctors. It will be their decision as to whether you can join.
Visit the Ministry of Defence website and there are links through to the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and the British Army. The same procedure applies to the Territorial Services. Your clinical team will support your application.
You can do most jobs providing you can offer the relevant qualifications and ability. Employers have to act fairly in their selection of applicants for jobs. If you are unsuccessful with an application you can ask the employer to explain why you were not selected for the job.
The UK government website GOV.UK has a wide range of practical guidance on employment regulations and procedures (www.GOV.UK) as does the Northern Ireland government website (nidirect.gov.uk)
Answer questions honestly, you only have to give medical information if you are specifically asked. It may be helpful to emphasise how long ago you received treatment. Your treatment summary will be helpful here. Again, it may be useful to ask a potential employer to contact your follow up doctor if they need more information.