What to do about your job while you have treatment for breast cancer can be a further stress for many women who are faced with a breast cancer diagnosis.
Many women worry about telling their employers about a diagnosis of breast cancer. And the list of concerns can be long:
• How much time will I need off for treatment?
• Will my employer allow me to take extended leave?
• Will my employer keep my role open for me?
• Do I have income insurance if I want to take time off?
• Will I be able to do my job when I return?
• How will I live without my income?
• Will my colleagues treat me differently when I return?
Each woman must make a decision that best suits her, depending on her diagnosis, treatment programme, needs, personality and support.
But any woman considering a return to work should have an in depth discussion with her doctor about the impact of treatment, medication and side effects on job performance and health.
BCAC secretary, Rowena Mortimer, says she had insurance and took six months off from her job as a lawyer and felt she needed that time to rest. She returned to work while still receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
“Going back to work was okay, but I was still very tired and think I suffered from a bit of ‘chemo brain’. I’d estimate that it took me a good year to come right physically and mentally," she says.
Fellow BCAC committee member, Julie Graham, also took time off from her job as the office manager at a childcare centre. She also had income protection insurance.
Julie says she was worried about taking so much time off work initially, but her employer was very supportive and allowed her to do some work from home.
“I was able to do eight to ten hours a week from home which kept my brain active and gave me something else to think about other than my treatment programme. Having the flexibility to work around how I was feeling after treatments was invaluable.”
Before making a decision about whether and when you should return to work, consider the following:
• What sort of treatment are you having?
o Are you having chemotherapy, radiation therapy, both or neither?
o How well do you cope with the chemotherapy?
o Have you had any serious side effects as a result of surgery or treatment?
• What are your short-term and long-term work goals:
o Do you want to keep working?
o Do you have to work?
o Are you physically and emotionally capable of working?
• What sort of work do you do?
o Will you have the stamina to carry out your current job while undergoing treatment?
o Is your job stressful?
o Do you manage other people?
• What’s your employer like?
o Is there a supportive corporate culture?
o What’s the company’s policy on extended sick leave?
o Is there capacity for flexible working hours?
• What’s the financial impact of your decision around working?
o Do you have income protection insurance you can use to take extended leave?
o Can you survive financially if you take time off work?
o Are there any benefits or subsidies you are entitled to allow you to take time off?
• Do you have adequate support in other areas of your life?
o Do you also need to take care of children or other dependents?
o Do you have others who can take care of your physical and emotional needs?
Make sure you consider all of these aspects before making a decision about when and if you return to work. Remember your top priority must be your health.
You may want to return to work slowly to give your body and your mind a chance to heal properly. Many people return to work part-time and then increase their hours.
Some tips for coping once you return to work include:
• work part-time for while if this will work for you and your employer
• work from home for part of the time if you’re able
• limit the number of projects or activities you’re involved in, delegate the rest
• work out what you feel comfortable telling colleagues about your treatment – they will be curious and you will need to give them some information
• establish a good relationship with your supervisor so that you can go to them if you’re having problems, need a break or need to talk about doing things differently
• Keep a work diary where you can monitor how your health impacts your performance. This may help you to figure out when the best times are for you to work.
• Incorporate some physical activity or stress relief into your week to help relieve the pressure of both treatment and work.
If you find you cannot return to work and you’re facing financial hardship, Work and Income New Zealand can provide some short-term financial assistance through the Sickness Benefit and long-term assistance through the Invalid’s Benefit. You may qualify depending on your circumstances. Check out the criteria for the sickness benefit. You can also call Work and Income New Zealand on 0800 559 009 for details.
The Cancer Society of New Zealand also provides grants to assist individuals and families facing financial hardship as a result of cancer treatment. The grants cover things such as transport costs, household expenses, special equipment, counselling services etc. Contact your local branch of the Cancer Society for details or call the helpline 0800 CANCER (226 237).
You may also like to check out this American publication on living and working with cancer. It is for an American market, but contains some useful tips on working through cancer. The US website, Cancer and Careers, is also a valuable resource.
