The emotional stress cancer places on an individual is immense, which can make working while receiving cancer treatment extremely hard
There are currently 890,000 people of working age living with cancer and this is set to increase to 1,150,000 by 2030 1. In the UK, cancer incidence rates among people aged 25–49 years increased by roughly 22% between 1993–95 and 2016–18. 2
This increase in people of working age with cancer has huge implications for employers and employees alike. Employers need to effectively manage and support employees affected by a cancer diagnosis.
It’s not just practical support though that is required, such as dedicated cancer policies. Emotional needs must also be given equal consideration, because the impact that cancer has on someone both physically and mentally is life changing. Many cancer patients talk about life post cancer treatment, as being their “new normal”.
Navigating your new normal
Navigating this altered existence is hard, which is why employers need to listen to people, like Sara, whose account of what it is REALLY like working with cancer is sobering reading.
Sara, who has benefited from Cancer Support UK’s Cancer Coach peer support group programme, describes the gritty reality of working while receiving treatment following a cancer diagnosis three years ago. Sara felt under pressure to return to work sooner than she was comfortable with, which resulted in her developing PTSD.
“I have a good working relationship with my line manager, so I was able to talk to them about needing time off for surgery and chemotherapy.
“I cried a lot when I told him, which was awkward, as he doesn’t deal very well with displays of emotion. He’s also a bit of a stickler for rules.
Cancer is an individual disease, which affects people differently both physically and emotionally. While 87% of employees 3 said it was important for them to keep working after their cancer diagnosis 4, the reasons why people choose to keep working vary. For 54% of UK workers 5, financial pressures meant they continued working following their diagnosis because they needed the money, while 62% 6 said it gave them a sense of normality. 55% said working helped them stay positive 7.
Financial pressure of cancer
“I didn’t worry about losing my job because of my cancer diagnosis, but because I had to take eight weeks off sick for surgery, I worried about going on reduced pay. I am a single mum, so I’m the sole income source in my family.
“My employer has a policy of health related special leave for chemo, which is why I asked for eight weeks (40 days) but I felt my employer made it difficult for me to have it, so I ended up working through chemo and only taking ten days special leave for the days I really couldn’t face.
“I’ve worked for the same employer for over 30 years and only ever taken about five weeks sick absence in total during the rest of my career.
Talking to colleagues about my cancer
“I did decide to tell my colleagues, some of whom I have known for a long time, and this was very emotional for me. My line manager kept in touch while I was off for “managing absence” purposes, but none of my colleagues contacted me.
“One colleague asked her manager three times for my address, as she wanted to send me a card. It was almost like a decision was imposed to have no contact with me. But perhaps this was in order to protect me?
“Consequently, I felt isolated. I felt like I didn’t matter and, if I’m honest, that feeling still lingers almost three years later.
Saying something is better than saying nothing
“I understand people don’t know what to say for the best, but I would encourage people to just say something. I know if it was one of my staff, they would have a very different experience.
“I have no idea how I managed to keep working while having treatment. I just did. However, I’m now paying the price for not having taken more time off, as I suffer from flashbacks and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), which I was diagnosed with a year after I finished chemo. I believe this is partly because I didn’t give myself the time and space to process what was happening and just kept going. I manage to keep this hidden by maintaining a professional “mask”, because everyone thinks that because my cancer was three years ago, I must surely be over it now.
“Cancer caused me huge emotional turmoil at work. Five days before I was due to have my surgery, I had to have an interview to secure my job permanently. This wasn’t illness related, just unfortunate timing.
Emotional pressure of cancer
“Thankfully I was successful. But what should have been a time of celebration for a promotion was completely glossed over. The emotional pressure to do well, while trying to make sense of a cancer diagnosis was enormous.
“Emotional support was definitely lacking at work. We have an EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) provider, but that wasn’t what I needed at the time. It felt too removed. I needed the support and strength of my friends and colleagues at work, but they just didn’t seem to know how to give me that, and I was in no position to ask for what I needed.
“I now have a wellness plan that outlines reduced office attendance each week, although I am regularly asked whether it is time to increase this.
“There are a number of improvements that could be put in place to support employees facing a cancer diagnosis/subsequent treatment.
How employers could improve in their support offer
“Managers would benefit from a cancer support toolkit, I think this is a really simple way to give managers the basics. I understand this is likely to be new ground for people (I was the first in my team to receive a cancer diagnosis). It’s also important to encourage colleagues to say something to colleagues who are affected. Of course not everyone will welcome this and that’s their choice. I know people are frightened of saying the wrong thing, but from experience I know that saying nothing is equally, if not more, damaging in the long term.”
Sara turned to Cancer Support UK’s Cancer Coach peer group programme for support once her treatment had finished, because: “everyone around me was talking about me “getting back to normal”, but I don’t feel like I have a normal any more.”
“Cancer coach gave me absolutely what I needed at the time. Having a shock diagnosis at a young(ish) age, fresh out of surgery and chemo and trying to make sense of it all, I feel Cancer Coach picked me up, gave me a hug and helped me put one foot in front of another. I still struggle to talk about any of it really, but I am extremely grateful to Cancer Coach for being there.”
Learn about workplace cancer support training and the different options you can choose to suit your organisation’s needs. To discuss your organisation’s cancer support training requirements email: training@cancersupportuk.org
Learn more about Cancer Support UK’s Cancer Coach services. To arrange for a telephone chat with the Cancer Coach team, please email: cancercoach@cancersupportuk.org
Sources:
1 Macmillan
2 Cancer Research
3-7 Macmillan