Hello and thank you for posting a question.

I am one of the nurses and our moderators wondered if we might be able to answer your question, but I am not sure that I can. This is because I have not found any guidance that seems to specifically fit your situation. I suppose to some extent the answer will depend on what cancer you had, the extent of the treatment that you received and what your immune system is like now.

The type of chemotherapy that someone received can make a difference to how their immune system recovers. As it has been many years since you had your treatment I would imagine that your immune system will have recovered by now. But if you had very intensive treatment, for example to treat some types of blood cancers, then the immune system could potentially still be low.

If your immune system has recovered then being around infectious children should not really pose more of a risk for you than for anyone else.  If it was still low, then it would be best for you not to have contact with children who have infectious conditions. If you have not had chicken pox  you could get vaccinated against it, but there is not one for hand foot and mouth disease. 

There is a bit of a debate about whether or not it is possible to get chicken pox again, but if it does happen this is uncommon. People who have had chicken pox can get shingles. But you won't catch shingles from a child with chicken pox. It would be a reactivation of the chicken pox that you had previously. The NHS information about chicken pox is quite good.

Hand foot and mouth disease is caused by a virus known as coxsackievirus. Adults can get it but it is not so common. Good hand washing and basic hygiene is the best way to  reduce the risk of getting it. 

As I don't know the details of your situation and I am not an infection expert  I cannot say for sure that it is OK for you to continue to work among children with infections, but for most people who have had chemotherapy in the distant past, who are currently well it would be OK.

I am unsure if you have an occupational health department where you work. If you do, discuss it with them. If not then it might be a good idea to check with your GP. 

I am sorry that I cannot be more specific.

Kind regards,

Jean