Career

After being diagnosed with any illness, especially a serious one such as cancer, other areas of your life are unfortunately affected as well. When your health does affect your employment, the last thing you expect is to be confronted with harassment or the threat of losing your job, income and health benefits. Despite significant gains in cancer survival rates and the passage of the ADA, people with cancer still experience barriers to equal job opportunities. One reason individuals with cancer face discrimination at work is their supervisors' and co-workers' misperceptions about their ability to work during and after cancer treatment. Even when the prognosis is excellent, some employers expect that a person diagnosed with cancer will have long absences from work or not be able to focus on duties.

Keep a detailed journal of all incidents including the date, time and what was said and by who as well as when you sought assistance from managers to resolve the matter. Ask for a meeting with our manager, human resources or union depending on you company set up. Come to the meeting organized with detailed facts and your concerns. If you have suggestions offer them as well. Under the ADA, it prohibits harassment based on disability just as other federal laws prohibit harassment based on race, sex, color, national origin, religion, or age. Harassment is actionable under the ADA when a person is subjected to offensive conduct that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to create a hostile or abusive work environment. Employees who believe that they have been harassed because of cancer may file a charge with the EEOC if you still find your personalized meetings are not resolved to your satisfaction. Keep in mind that the charge must be filed by mail or in person with the local EEOC office within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation.

Patient Advocate Foundation's publication "First My Illness, Now Job Discrimination" is a good resource as well.

I started a business at home during my breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Nearly 4 years later, it has become my full time job and I still love it. A couple of words of caution, however.

*Don't let this be your full time income. The markets are unpredictable.

*Taxes will eat you alive

*Prepare to spend 10-18 hours a day at it, even weekends

*Know your limits physically and financially

* Try not to go into debt to grow your business

* Get creative about marketing ideas

*Do trades or giveaways to advertise

Good luck!

If you have worked at your new employer long enough to accumulate leave time I would utilize vacation, sick or personal days for a scheduled doctor appointment. If you find that you need more then one day or your request are frequent you should discuss with your human resources department your needs to see if accomidations are offered. Maybe you could seek a later afternoon appointment and flex. If you have been employed for at least 12 months and worked enough hours you could be eligible for Family Medical Leave assuming your employer employees the required number of employees (www.dol.gov).

Hi there,

Sorry for the delay, I reached out to one of our professional career coaches for her recommendations:

• It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now: How to Create Your Second Life atAny Age by Barbara Sher

• Living the 7 Habits: The Courage to Change by Steven R.Covey

• I Don't Know What I want, But I Know It's Not This by Julie Jansen

• Coach Yourself to a New Career: 7 Steps to Reinventing Your Professional Life by Talane Miedaner

• Escape From Corporate America: A Practical Guide to Creating the Career of Your Dreams by Pamela Skillings

There is also a lot of chat about career changes/shifts on our career coaching center, http://www.cancerandcareers.org/career-coach

Good luck!

Rebecca

Rebecca Nellis
Director of Programs
Cancer and Careers

I would only share what you feel comfortable with and only share it with those you trust. You never have to share personal info to anyone at work and sometimes sadly sharing may place you at a disadvantage. I would keep quiet until you are hired and feel as though you can trust those around you. Best of luck to you in your decision may it turn out the best for you!
Heather
www.mybreastcanceranswers.com

It should not be a problem as it doesn't interfere with your ability to move/perform your job. You never have to tell your employer/future employer about your cancer status if you do not feel comfortable. You may want to mention you had a surgery that made you likely to build up fluid in your arm and you have a special sleeve you must wear. What types of questions have you been asked specifically?
Heather
www.mybreastcanceranswers.com
some helpful links for lymphedema
http://www.mybreastcanceranswers.com/the-latest-and-greatest-news/a-newtool-may-predict-lymphedema-risk-before-symptoms-appear
http://www.mybreastcanceranswers.com/lymphedema/lymphedema

Hi there,

This is possibly the question we get asked the most and everyone ultimately answers it differently. No matter what, in the initial stages of a job search, you will want to be prepared for questions related to gaps in employment history. And, if it comes up be future focused, non-specific and brief. What is key to a prospective employer is how you can solve their problems and meet their needs so be prepared to speak about that. Practice, practice, practice your answers so that you can be at ease during your interview. However you decide to field the question don't out and out lie, ever but you can absolutely be broad or vague.

One unexpected upside to the current economic situation is that employers today are used to seeing candidates with some gaps due to many reasons, so they may not even ask about caused yours.

Remember that though cancer is forefront in your mind, it is not for the person sitting across the table. Most importantly try and remember that you would be an asset to them and that this is your opportunity to dazzle them with how and why.

Also, if you did any volunteer work or consulting during your time off that should be on your resume and be part of your explanation.

It is also key that you understand what you do and don't have to do under the law in terms of disclosure, for more on that: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/at-work/Legal-and-Financial/top-three-legal-questions

Some additional information from our website:
*Job Hunting After Cancer: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/looking-for-work/Job-Hunting-After-Cancer-Treatment

*In terms of downplaying the gap on your actual resume, a combination chronological/functional resume may be best for you. Find an example here: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/grid/assets/tinafunctionandchron_resume.pdf.

*Not sure how to explain why you left your last job when it was due to cancer treatment? We've got a great career coaching thread on this very topic: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/career-coach/job-application.

*Having trouble getting asked to interview, and think it may be due to the gap? Some of the advice here may help you out: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/career-coach/having-trouble-finding-a-job.

Hope this helps!

Best,
Rebecca

Rebecca V Nellis
Director of Programs
Cancer and Careers

Congrats on being done with treatment!

Your question is a tough one and a really personal one too. Everyone feels differently about this decision, my first piece of advice is for you to understand what you legally do and don't have to do so that any decision you make includes understanding that key piece, you can do some reading here http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/at-work/Legal-and-Financial and for specific questions on your personal situation contact the Cancer Legal Resource Center at 1-866-THE-CLRC.

Next, I think it is important for you to think about the culture of the new place you are working, do they seem very tight knit and familial or is it more corporate and less intimate? Do people who have been there a long time seem to know a lot about each other outside the work realm? Other things to look for, is there another survivor on staff who has made that known to you? If so, how is he/she being treated?

Then I think you should ask yourself whether cancer being a big part of who you are also means it needs to be a big part of your work identity. Or if your experience can inform and shape the lens through which you view everything but you don't necessarily need to brand yourself with it at work. When you think this through, it is important to recognize fair or not that people have their own perceptions of what cancer means and what being a survivor looks like and you want to be sure that you are ok with how that might be received and how you might be treated once that information is out there.

It also might just be a case of waiting to see how your trajectory in this new place shapes up and choosing to tell the people who become important to you what you have been through as it organically comes up.

I hope this provides some helpful ways to think through the new environment and your decision about whether to share or not.

Best,
Rebecca

Rebecca V Nellis
Director of Programs
Cancer and Careers.

Hi there,

This one is a bit complicated, some people are able to use the Family and Medical Leave Act to take time off in small increments for things like doctors appointments, however if this is a new job and/or the employer is not required to provide FMLA leave this won't be of use to you (or at least not yet, if you want to know more about this law and state laws like it contact the Cancer Legal Resource Center at 1-866-THE-CLRC).

There is also the question of whether you have decided to disclose your cancer diagnosis at all at this new job or whether you are hoping to keep it under wraps and want to be vague about these appointments. Either way, one possibility would be to sit down with your supervisor and explain (either specifically or generally) that you have to go to the doctor every few weeks and would like to know if you can break up sick time or vacation time into smaller increments to cover the visits. Another suggestion you could make is to request the ability to come in early or stay late and simply make up the time for the appointments so your time in the office nets out the same.

With all of this I would strongly recommend understanding your legal rights around the decision to disclose, one place to start is http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/at-work/Legal-and-Financial or as mentioned above reach out to the Cancer Legal Resource Center.

Hope this helps!

Best,
Rebecca

Rebecca V Nellis
Director of Programs
Cancer and Careers

Hi there,

It would help to know a little bit more about the particulars of your workplace like was it close knit before you were diagnosed and so this treatment is different from how you related to them before, are the people you work with people you consider friends in the larger frame of your life, are these people who have either never been touched by cancer or been touched by cancer before, etc. In general, your options seem to me to be:

1) Try and sit down with your co-workers and prepare them for what’s coming up so they don’t start guessing the worst. Then focus the conversation on how you plan to cope and get work done, to alleviate any worries. Often, people will take their cues from you on how to handle the situation and if you seem to have it under control; your colleagues will react accordingly. This sit down might help you understand why they are treating you differently than before your cancer and make it easier to move forward with them. We have a bit of co-worker content on the site here: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/coworkers and this section is growing.

2) You could speak to your supervisor or HR about the situation with your co-workers and see if they have any thoughts on ways to improve the environment for you. Perhaps if it came from them it would be easier, of course the opposite is also possible.

3) You might also want to think about what it is you need from your co-workers and if it is possible to get it elsewhere and just have work be work, again this very much depends on answers to my earlier questions.

I know none of this is an exact solution, unfortunately there isn't a perfect answer for human nature. The best you can do is see if you can figure out what is causing their behavior and then decide if you have the energy/desire to work to alleviate the cause. Of course, if you feel there is something deeper going on and it verges on some sort of legal infringement then you might want to contact the Cancer Legal Resource Center to discuss your options (1-866-THE-CLRC).

Good luck!

Best,
Rebecca

Rebecca V Nellis
Director of Programs
Cancer and Careers

Hi there,

This is a big one that we hear about frequently as people transition back to work. Below are some tips/suggestions that we know to be simple and effective to get you thinking about how to manage side effects at work.

First off forget about multitasking. As hard as that may be in our super connected fast paced world, for many people managing fatigue and concentration challenges during or post-treatment successful multitasking is near impossible and very frustrating. Instead, write down a list of priorities and then turn off your email, phone and instant messenger and focus on accomplishing one thing at a time. Make sure to drill big projects down into manageable tasks for that very important feeling of accomplishment that comes with ticking things off your list.

Second, literally write everything down (from meetings to in passing ideas to people you need to follow up with to groceries), so if you forget you’ll always have a record. And keep one notebook with all your "to do" things so they are all in one place and take it everywhere so you are never scrambling without it.

In terms of your actual workspace, ban clutter and clear your desk or work area so that when you are going through tasks one by one there aren't a million distractions and you don't feel overwhelmed by all that still needs to be finished.

Third, rehearse everything from presentations to work updates and even phone calls so that you feel practiced, professional and focused.

Other things to consider, is your job flexible enough to let you ease back into the work world either by starting part-time and ramping up to full time as you get your feet under you again or by telecommuting one or two days a week for a while to eliminate the commute part of your day. Obviously, for some professions (surgeons, teachers, toll booth collectors) telecommuting isn't a feasible option so you have to think through what would be possible given your particular situation. Or, if your side effects are more debilitating do you need to look into availing yourself of any legal rights you may have. To determine what you might be eligible for I recommend you review some of our articles here: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/at-work/Legal-and-Financial and then call the Cancer Legal Resource Center (1-866-THE-CLRC) to discuss your specific situation.

Finally, remember to take a moment for yourself in your day, no matter how busy or how stressful. Try taking a break, with a few deep breaths to refocus or take a walk either around the office or the block.

Hope this helps!

Best,
Rebecca

Rebecca V Nellis
Director of Programs
Cancer and Careers

It was definitely a very personal and important choice when my late husband was diagnosed as to who to tell. As a freelance worker in the film business, he decided to keep it mostly confidential and on a need to know basis. He could have easily been blacklisted out of an unfounded fear that he might not be able to perform his duties had people known.

The fallout from this was me becoming his silent caregiver and not being able to get support from our freelance community which is normally very involved. It's one of the key areas I coach caregivers in ~ finding those support systems so you're not doing it all alone (or feeling like you're alone). I learned this the hard way.

Assessing who you tell with regard to the kind of support you feel you will get is a good barometer of who to share with. Be clear, as outlined above in the great posts, what your rights are and also be clear as to the why you are telling and what you hope to achieve from it. This can help define the level of disclosure that fits for you and your family.

After being diagnosed with any illness, especially cancer, other areas of your life are unfortunately affected as well. When your health does affect your employment, the last thing you expect is to be confronted with harassment or the threat of losing your job, income and health benefits. Our publication, First My Illness, Now Job Discrimination (http://www.patientadvocate.org/index.php?p=122) is designed to empower you to fully understand what your rights are, to assist you with direction in filing a claim of discrimination and to help you deal with job discrimination.

I concur with Tanya's recommendations as documentation of the events you feel are discriminatory is important. Discrimination can come in all forms and if you dealing with needing time off from work to undergo treatment, depending on the size of the employer and how long you have been employeed with them you can qualify for up to 12 weeks of Family Medical Leave (FMLA) allowing you protected time away from work.

If you find that your Human Resources is not helpful or your still having challenges you can file a complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) at 800-669-4000 or contact Patient Advocate Foundation at 800-532-5274.

Anytime cancer or its side effects substantially limit(s) one or more of your major life activities you are covered by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

For example, if a stock worker had surgery to remove a lump from her breast, has limited mobility until it heals and can no longer unload boxes she is covered under ADA.

Or if an executive assistant is having chemotherapy after being diagnosed with testicular cancer, is having difficulty concentrating and is experiencing fatigue, he may have to take more breaks then normal and work longer hours as a result. He is covered under the ADA.

A breakdown of how the ADA act can be used to protect you during treatment and afterwords, please check out the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/cancer.html