CANCER in

School-Age Children

A Special Issue

It is through the cooperative efforts of the American Cancer Society and the American School Health Association that this feature is presented. We are indebted to R. Lee Clark, MD, 1976-1977 President of the American Cancer Society, for his generous support of this project. Dr. Clark also is President of The University of Texas System Cancer Center M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston, Texas.

Special thanks is given to Colleen M. Hubona, Editor, Department of Information and Pub- lications, The University of Texas System Cancer Center, and to Glenn R. Knotts, PhD, Professor of Medical Journalism and Head of the Department, for their editorial assistance.

MARCH 1977 THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH 141

A M E R I C A N C A N C E R S O C I E T Y , INC. 7 7 7 T H I R D A V E N U E N E W Y O R K , N . Y . 1 0 0 1 7 ( 2 1 2 1 3 7 1 - 2 9 0 0

R. LEE CLARK, M. D. President

Dear Friends,

R E 8 E A R C H EDUCATION 8 E R v I c E

It is a pleasure to greet the members of the American School Health Association and other readers of THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH on behalf of the volunteers, staff, and officers of the American Cancer Society.

On March 28, 1938, the Congress of the United States, by a joint resolution, requested the President to issue annually a proclamation designating the month of April as Cancer Control Month. Each April since then, the President has asked the medical and health professions, the communications media, and all other interested persons and groups to unite during this appointed time in public reaffirmation of our Nation’s abiding commitment to cancer control. Therefore, it is gratifying and timely for the American Cancer Society to join the American School Health Association t o provide, in advance of Cancer Control Month 1977, this special issue of THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH.

The contributors to this issue have discussed various aspects of life with a child who has cancer: the signs, symptoms, and epidemiology of his disease and its treatment; the child’s education; and the family’s attitudes. The concluding article focuses in part on preventive measures.

grateful for this opportunity to participate in the compilation of a special issue of THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH on cancer in the school-age child.

We salute you for your important work with our Nation’s children and youth, and we are

Sincerely,

R. Lee Clark, MD President

142 THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH MARCH 1977

American School Health Association THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH

K E N T , O H I O 4 4 2 4 0 2 1 6 6 7 8 - 1 6 0 1 V OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Dear Reader:

This special issue of THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH provides an unprecedented opportunity for the readers of THE JOURNAL to review, reassess, and provide new insights into our knowledge and understanding of cancer in the school-age child. For some, a discussion of this topic is unsettling, as it probably would be for parents of school-age children. It would be easier to forego the discussion, and yet, as professionals, we must not do so-cancer is a major killer of school-age children. Schools must evaluate their role and responsibility to the child with cancer who is in school. The school must plan the ways it can be helpful and supportive to the child and his family. The school should also examine its instructional responsibility in teaching school children about cancer.

On behalf of the membership of the American School Health Association, I am pleased to express sincere appreciation to the American Cancer Society for their collaboration on this special publication. The subject of this issue is a timely one for THE JOURNAL readers who are involved in school health. Special thanks and appreciation are extended to the President of the American Cancer Society, R. Lee Clark, MD, for his cooperation in making this issue possible. Finally, to you the reader, we hope this special issue of THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH will be useful now and in the future.

Sincerely yours,

Warren E. Schaller, HSD President

MARCH 1977 THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH 143