Living and working with secondary breast cancer:

I’ve received a cancer diagnosis, can I continue to work?

Finding and maintaining work can be hard at the best of times and bringing cancer into the equation adds another layer of complexity. Every cancer is different and affects people differently, so I encourage people to take the time to pause, reflect and look ahead. This will help you assess what’s important to you and what your priorities are – you may want to continue working full time, part-time or stop working all together. That said, most people who are working when diagnosed with secondary breast cancer want to continue to do so if they can.

Should I just resign?

Please do not resign. A secondary breast cancer diagnosis is not a resigning matter. Before choosing to leave your job, you need to think through, What has changed for me? Why do I not want to do this any longer? How will I/my family manage if I leave this job now?

What practical advice is there to help me come to a decision to continue with work?

Depending on your diagnosis, you will probably need to take a few weeks sick leave for more tests, scans and for treatment. Sometimes treatment starts very quickly but not always. If you do have the time, you might want to begin navigating through your emotions and to understand how the treatment will impact you physically and psychologically, so you can make informed decisions about your capacity to work. During this time, you may also want to think about things like your pension, financial plans and making a will.

Many people, if they want, can still work for many years following a secondary breast cancer diagnosis. You can still be interested in work but request for a change in duties (called reasonable adjustments) based on your treatment plan. Communication is paramount! Don’t shy away from telling people that you will need some time to deal with your diagnosis and tell people how they can best support you.

Should I tell everyone at work?

Under the Equality Act from 2010, you’re not required to tell anyone about your diagnosis at work, but our recommendation is to tell your employer since you are protected under the law. If you choose not to tell them, they will not know how best to support you.

The following may help when you have that discussion with your employer:

• Be clear on what your diagnosis means. Explain technical terms like ‘secondary’.
• Explain what your treatment looks like in terms of appointments and recovery, where you are being treated and when will you need time off. But also mention that treatment plans can change depending on how you respond, so flexibility and regular, open communication is really important 
• You should discuss and agree with your employer how colleagues and others, e.g. suppliers, and clients will be informed about your illness. Who will say what, to whom, how and when? 
• Note that anyone you’re telling about your diagnosis needs your expressed permission to inform others. 

How can my treatment impact my day-to-day?

Nobody knows how treatment is going to affect each individual, and when you have a secondary diagnosis, there will be periods of instability and uncertainty from day to day. Suggest to your manager that you develop a work plan with them and your team to manage and support these changes. This may include arranging temporary cover, delegating tasks to others or providing flexible deadlines.

That’s not how I work and not what I’m used to, people expect me to be ok

Yes, but no-one really expects to get cancer or a secondary diagnosis. It is important to recognise that this is about you as an individual managing your own circumstances, and you have nothing to prove.

Be kind to yourself – make the choices that seem best for you and make the time to manage other people’s expectations, as well as your own. If things do not work out as expected, that is not your fault, you can only do what you think and hope is best for you. If people’s expectations are becoming debilitating, this may pressure you into making choices based on other people’s needs and not your own.  

These changes might impact my development and stop me progressing in my career

Here in the UK, it is discriminatory to treat anyone differently in terms of promotion or pay because they have cancer. That is a right from the first day of your employment and you are protected forever. If you are experiencing discriminatory treatment due to your diagnosis, get advice from ‘Working With Cancer’ or other cancer support organisations. You should also speak to your HR team to support you during this time and if appropriate, you may need to raise a grievance, hopefully not.
 

What is the most important piece of advice to take from this article?

The impact of cancer usually stays with you for many years after diagnosis, and confronting your own mortality is scary. Take the time and space to think through what’s right for you regardless of what other people’s expectations might be. Work can be very beneficial psychologically as well as financially. Indeed, in my view, returning to work should be seen as a natural, important and valid outcome of cancer treatment.