The school experience: Perceptions of long-term survivors of pediatric soft tissue and bone sarcomas

Abstract

Background. Students with sarcomas my experience supports or barriers to academic success and psychosocial well-being at school. Purpose. The purpose of the study is to examine the lived experience of students that have been treated for bone or soft tissue sarcomas. More specifically, this study attempts to find answers to and extract meaning from the following questions. (1) What is the lived experience of a student with bone or soft tissue sarcoma? (2) What does the lived experience of students with sarcomas, as described by survivors, reveal about the perceived supports and barriers to academic success and psychosocial well-being that they experienced? Findings. The lived experience of the phenomenon of school has many facets for the young person with cancer. Memories of survivors included descriptions of supports and barriers that exist in (1) support teams, (2) fitting in, (3) physical factors (4) absence from school and (5) communication. Practical Implications. Knowledge of the areas where survivors experience support and barriers will assist educators in designing programs to support students with sarcoma.