How To Keep Up With Work And Career While Fighting Cancer

Depending on the type of cancer that’s diagnosed to a specific cancer patient,  treatment plan and the sort of work a patient does, maintaining a current work schedule and productivity level can be demanding, to say the least. Most cancer patients cannot afford not to work. Patients may also need to keep their job for health insurance and other benefits. In addition, cancer patients career can provide fulfillment, routine and a sense of normalcy that helps carry them through this challenging period.

Between side effects such as fatigue, pain or nausea and numerous medical appointments, being consistently present and getting everything done can be tough. Everyone’s experience can differ greatly and might even fluctuate from one day to the next. Fortunately, patients can take steps to diminish some of the difficulties they face. These tips will help cancer patients find work/life balance during treatment and beyond.

Diagnosis Seems To Come When It’s The Least Expected

More than one-third of the women in America and almost half the men will be diagnosed with cancer sometime in their lives, and for many, the diagnosis will come while they’re working — literally. Many patients hear the diagnosis for the first time when their doctor phones at work. Most continue working while they’re treated.

According to a study of 1,433 cancer patients ages 25 to 62 published in the journal “Cancer,” about 59 percent of men and 61 percent of women continued working during cancer treatment. Of those who stopped working, most returned to work the first year after treatment.

“Most people want to keep working,” said Dr. Shyamali Singhal, Surgical Oncologist, owner, and founder of Hope & Beauty. “Most people, if they are really not able to work will say, ‘I can’t come in this week, or this month, or these four months,’ but they really want to reintegrate to work when they are able to.”

Accommodating Patients Special Needs

What a patient can do and whether they will need to limit their activities will depend on how they feel during treatment. Some patients with cancer can still go to work and do their usual everyday tasks while they get treatment. Other cancer patients find that they need more rest or just feel too sick to do much.

Still, many cancer patients are able to keep working while they’re getting cancer treatment. Some patients work their usual full-time schedules. Some work the same schedules with special conditions, like being closer to the office bathroom so it’s easier to deal with side effects. Other cancer patients need a less demanding schedule, like taking extra days off or even working part-time for a while.

The willingness and ability of a workplace to accommodate any special needs patients might have an effect on the success of working during treatment. Dr. Singhal advises patients to talk with the employer about what might be needed at this time. Under federal and state laws, some employers may be required to let cancer patients work a flexible schedule to meet their treatment needs.

Work Can Help Feel Better About Themselves

Some cancer patients are able to continue their normal routine, including going to work, while they’re still in treatment. Others find that they need more rest or just feel too sick and cannot do as much.

If a patient can work during treatment, they might find that it helps them to feel better about themselves. The job they have may provide a necessary source of income, and it may remind them that they have a life apart from cancer.  Regular contact with others when working is also an important factor. Sometimes cancer can bring negative emotions and feeling of isolation and loneliness, and being around people can be of great comfort.

If cancer patients have been out of work and plan to return, they may want to talk with their employer about possible options, such as flex-time, job sharing, or working from home. Options like these may help ease patients mind and body back into the demands of their job.

Tips For Better Time Managing

It’s important to figure out how to continue to work while undergoing cancer treatment. These tips might help out patients to better manage their time and work:

• Plan chemo treatments late in the day or right before the weekend to allow time to recover.

• Explore options like working from home for some days. This might help you feel less tired and allow you to take care of yourself more easily if you have problems.

• Getting help at home can mean more energy for work. Certain daily chores may be divided among friends and family members.

• Unless there is a reason not to, let co-workers know about your situation. They can be great sources of support. They may even be able to help you come up with ways to better manage your work during this time.

• Keep your supervisor up to date on how well your schedule or other changes are working for you.

• Make a log of your usual work schedule and duties. Refer to it when you set up flex-time, shifted duties, or time off.

• Make a detailed list of job duties so you can direct others in handling things when you’re out of the office.

Laws And Regulation To Protect Cancer Patients

You have the same rights as anyone else in the workplace and should be given equal opportunities, regardless of whether you tell people at work about your cancer diagnosis. Hiring, promoting, and how you are treated in the workplace should depend entirely on your abilities and qualifications. As long as you are able to fulfill your job duties, you can’t legally be fired for being sick. You also shouldn’t have to accept a position you never would have considered before your illness. Many people with job problems related to cancer are protected by federal laws like the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Some people also benefit from the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This law lets many people with serious illnesses take unpaid leave to get medical care or manage their symptoms. The leave can take many forms, such as a part-time schedule for a limited time, or taking off 1 or 2 days a week for a while. Not all employers are required to follow FMLA. Talk to someone in your human resources department or another workplace expert to find out what your options are.