Sharing Your Cancer Diagnosis With Work

If you do decide to share your news, it might help to plan your approach and consider who you want to tell, and how much you want to disclose. At the very least it's worth considering that by being transparent with your employer (be it HR or your line manager), you'll be more likely to receive the support and understanding necessary to help you through your treatment. 

Here are four helpful tips on how to share your diagnosis, your way...

1. Develop a plan 

A good place to start is to speak with your doctor. By fully understanding your treatment plan, as well as the different ways it might affect the way you feel mentally and physically, you'll be better able to relay this information to your employer. Specifically, find out if you'll need any time off for appointments and how often this will occur, as well as if your treatment requires any downtime. 

The second part of your planning consists of deciding how much information you feel comfortable sharing with your employer and colleagues, as well as how and when you'd like to share your news. You might want to consult one of the following people: 

• Your line manager 
• A Human Resources (HR) manager
• An occupational health advisor
• Your trade union representative 

2. Decide who you'd like to tell

Making your colleagues and/or manager aware of your diagnosis is totally up to you. Every person feels differently about this decision and there's no right or wrong answer. It may help to weigh up the pros and cons of making others aware of your diagnosis. Consider the type of relationships you have at work and whether letting any of them know will be helpful. It's impossible to predict how your team will react, however, you can consider your own personality and peace of mind when deciding how their knowledge of your diagnosis might affect you.

Ask yourself, will it help you to feel understood and supported, or will it make you feel vulnerable and uncomfortable?

3. Discuss the road ahead 

Once you've made your decisions and had the conversations, you can begin to plan the road ahead. This might mean adjusting your working hours to accommodate appointments and post-treatment downtime. It could also include switching from in-office workdays to fully remote ones, a reduction in hours or more frequent breaks, or perhaps lightening your workload. Work closely with your manager to devise a plan that is most suitable. If possible, try to keep the plan fluid so that you can monitor and re-evaluate, making adjustments as you go. It could be that continuing to work helps you to feel motivated and distracted from your treatment, it could also be that you'll feel like you need more rest and less work pressure. Again, every person experiences their diagnosis differently and there is no right or wrong way to feel. 

4. Keep a record 

Keep a record of what has been discussed and the accommodating plans that have been made. Most employers are understanding and supportive of employees who have been diagnosed with cancer, however, it's helpful to have a documented paper trail so that everyone is clear what has been agreed.

Macmillan Cancer Support - work and cancer
Macmillan Cancer Support - support line
Cancer Support UK
Cancer Research UK
Maggie's - care and support