Getting back to work may be just what some cancer patients need to beef up self-esteem and remind themselves of their value to others. Cancer can be very isolating, so some may find new energy in resuming work in a room full of people. About 40 percent of Americans diagnosed with some form of cancer each year are adults of working age, according to the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, and many of them will face unfamiliar territory when they return to the job after a medical absence.
Significant advances, such as passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and increased survival rates, have helped change attitudes from the time when a cancer diagnosis was a death sentence, but barriers still exist to equal job opportunities. Even when the prognosis is excellent, some employers and co-workers may expect that a person treated for cancer will have long absences or won't be able to handle the job as well as they did before.
Here are some things you should know:
*Your return may pique people's curiosity and you may get personal questions such as whether you've had reconstructive surgery. What you divulge is up to you. But have some answers in mind.
*Some co-workers will be nothing but supportive. Some may be resentful that they may have to take on more of your duties. You also may be an unpleasant reminder of their own mortality.
*Some people with breast cancer like to be open about their condition so that they can tap into the support and encouragement at work. Some like work to be a sanctuary separate from their cancer issues.
*If you decide to share details with your co-workers it is often easier to have the conversations in groups of two or three.
*Employers are required by federal law to provide "reasonable accommodations" for anyone with a disability and that usually includes breast cancer. Accommodations vary greatly but can include time off for physician appointments and to recover from treatment, short breaks during the work day and an altered work schedule. The ADA also protects people from losing their jobs because of a disability.
*Your boss is prohibited, with limited exceptions, from telling co-workers about your cancer even if your appearance raises questions. The decision to tell is yours, the EEOC says.
*Though rare, workplace harassment has been reported by cancer survivors. Employees who believe that they have been harassed because of cancer may file a charge with the EEOC.
*Before you return to work, talk with your doctor and your boss. You may not be able to perform your job in the same way, especially if it involves physical abilities. You may need to work fewer hours or do your job in a different way. Evaluate whether you want to come back before radiation/chemo treatments are over.