SCHOOL'S IN is a booklet with advice for teachers on how to deal sensitively with children in their classroom who are suffering from cancer. It has just been launched by the Irish Cancer Society with the aim of helping teachers welcome back a child who is undergoing cancer treatment.

About 110 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, however due to major advances in the treatment of childhood cancers, most of them will go on to lead normal and active lives.

The 22-page booklet is written by staff members of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin. It provides practical advice on issues such as how much the child knows about the disease, how to treat the child in the classroom, the emotional impact of the disease on the family and the likely changes in the child's appearance.

The booklet features drawings by children of all ages. It lists the effects of chemotherapy, the common childhood cancers and cancer treatments. There is also a glossary of medical terms and a list of useful contacts.