Time off work - Cancer

[BananaChipmiffin]

I've name changed and I'm not going to say my role in this issue, I just want opinions, because there have been various responses in my workplace.

If a colleague was diagnosed with cancer (treatable, good prognosis and they're not actively physically unwell) would you expect them to go off sick immediately and return after treatment/recovery or take a few days/a week to come to terms with the diagnosis, tell family etc. and then return to work until treatment starts? With paid time off for appointments as needed.

If treatment is in several phases, would you expect them (if well enough) to return to work in between or to stay off until it's all done?

As others have said there isn't a one size fits all answer as it depends on the individual, the type of cancer and what the treatment will involve.
I have also been through breast cancer and all the treatment. The physical side is tough but the mental impact of the diagnosis and the treatment is hard and shouldn't be underestimated. I don't think there can be a fixed time. Each step of treatment has it's own challenges. The Macmillan information and support woman at my hospital was wonderful and could answer any questions about anything work related so if it is you or a family member/friend, I would seek advice if work are expecting too much.
It is up to the individual whether they are able to come into work before treatment starts but they will have appointments in that time and mentally they may not be in the right place. Nobody else should decide what is "right".

I've just been through this and I took a week off post-op. Then I had the afternoon of each chemo off, and then days 4&5 of each cycle which were the days I was tired.

But everyone is different and my employer simply told me to take whatever I needed. I don't think there is a standard expectation.

Honestly, until my late DH had cancer, I had no idea just how different the effects can be with different cancers and different chemo drugs. Cancer isn't a single illness, it's a huge group of different diseases. And chemo regimes can vary from just making you a bit tired, to making you seriously ill.

If you're the employer/manager/colleague, please don't judge by past experience of friends' and acquaintances' cancers. And if you are the patient, please do what's right for you and act on the advice of your medical team, don't let anyone judge you for it, and point out what I've just said about different people and their own different cancers/treatments.

I would expect them to be off the whole time.
Although obviously some people with a pleasant job and no caring responsibilities may be able to WFH or come into the office sometimes if they feel up to it.

I'd have no expectation. I'd expect them to do what was best for themselves based in how they felt, both physically and emotionally.

We've had 3 colleagues get a cancer diagnosis in the recent past, each dealt with it very differently. All 3 were (and are) effected differently throughout too.

Thanks everyone, I am the patient and I've had a few days off following the initial diagnosis, but I'm intending to return next week until my surgery. Radiotherapy will be at a hospital an hour or so away, so I'll need up be off the whole time.

I've been made aware that a director level colleague has already commented that as we're WFH I should need minimal time off, because I don't need to drive into the office, I can work in my PJs etc.

My role is mentally demanding, I might be sitting at a desk but I have to be able to concentrate, focus and manage challenging conversations, give bad news etc.

What is wrong with people!! How on earth can someone else judge whether you should be fit for work or not.

I'm cross for you op

Talk to your medical team. Tell them what the colleague has said, and ask them what they think. If you have concerns, express them and let the doctor decide. If they think the director is being unreasonable, they'll sign you off, which makes the decision for you.

It is not up to the director, or anyone else, to tell you how to manage this. You might quietly remind them that you are now covered by the Equality Act 2010, automatically disabled, and that reasonable adjustments, if required, are for you to ask for, not the employer to impose. If you are not fit for work, then you are sick. Full stop, end of discussion. If you want to work, and provided your doctors approve that, then that is your choice.

Cancer is regarded as a disability OP so you have rights and your employers have to make reasonable adjustments. MacMillan are very helpful with this. I wish you all the best with your treatment. X

I think I need to speak to HR next week. WFH shouldn't be a tool for getting people to work when they're unwell, the work is the same at home or in the office.

I get that you can probably work through minor illnesses when WFH, but this is cancer not a cold.

I'd have a chat with them and ask what they wanted to do. Some people might prefer the distraction of work (if they're not too sick), others might want to be off. As a boss, I'd give the employee my full support and let them guide the next steps.

Having been the patient in a very similar position a couple of years ago - endometrial cancer, caught early and am now considered cured - bar a day or so after my diagnosis when I thought I was ok, I was off for 10 weeks.

Physically, after my operation I could have gone back to work after a couple of weeks. Desk job, nothing physical at all, but mentally I was a wreck. Everyone is different, but NOBODY should be making assumptions about how YOU will cope. Cancer is shit and everybody's journey is different. Not only that, I'm pretty sure you are covered by the Equalities Act from diagnosis so reasonable adjustments should be made for you if you need them.

I wish you well OP.

Hope all goes well with your treatment OP, as that is what you need to be allowed to focus on.
My consultant was very clear he wanted me to have time off. In the end that was almost 6 months. Luckily my employers were very supportive.
All the best. 💐

NC for this.

This is currently where I am. Every treatment plan is different so will just say what I am doing.

Currently in week 3 of daily radiotherapy and weekly chemo (one week to go, yay!).

I've been working before and after treatment (and actually during chemo) but aside from a bit of tiredness/nausea I've been fine. I walk to work/hospital etc (I know O get no medals for this) I've taken bits of time off when I've needed to rest and am now WFH two days a week.

However, there is no expectation for me to do this. If I didn't want to work then I wouldn't have to. Absolutely no pressure.

I am not doing this for financial reasons as I get full sick pay. I work a senior role. My company have been really supportive.

Whilst someone may be physically fine to work, mentally it's a game changer what a diagnosis does to you so you need to be empathetic towards this as well.

“I've been made aware that a director level colleague has already commented that as we're WFH I should need minimal time off, because I don't need to drive into the office, I can work in my PJs etc.” - We would not be able to do this. It’s considered very unprofessional to sit around in PJ’s. Employees are not allowed to WFH if feeling sick. If you are sick, you are sick. The end. You could possibly work through a cold, but matters get complicated if you are sick the other end shall we say. It just can’t be done.

Good luck with treatment OP and don’t be bullied. Take the time you need 💐

OP I am disgusted that senior people at your company are making remarks like that.

To give you a comparison, when I was diagnosed my boss immediately distributed all my work throughout the team. This meant I could concentrate on my many hospital appointments, but didn't have to formally go off sick until the day I had surgery 5 weeks later, so I didn't have to start using up my sick pay allowance until then. That is the standard of compassion from management that you should expect. I was off for my entire treatment, and then had a gradual phased return with the support of occupational health. If anyone at work had had any comments about that then I would have reported them to HR for discrimination and harassment on the basis of disability.

I hope your treatment goes well.

I kind of agree. But not entirely. It should be a choice. I've worked through serious illness. So will others. But not at risk to ourselves. Because working can be grounding. But it must be a choice.

I had cancer and have been working now three-weekly chemo has started (from home in the week straight after) though I am self-employed and have a lot of flexibility.

Between diagnosis and surgery I spent a lot of time chasing the hospital as nothing seemed to be happening, and also a lot of time educating myself and speaking to charities and integrative practitioners to give myself the best chance of recovery and no recurrence. I also stepped up my fitness regime before surgery. I then had two weeks feeling settled after the surgery as they expected I was cured before the histology report showed something unexpected. I didn't agree with their analysis for treatment so spent four weeks chasing a second opinion who found something further that my hospital hadn't.

All that took four months in which I was unable to focus much as it felt everything was a battle emotionally and practically and one phone call could throw me for the day.

I'm still doing complementary interventions, there's researching and managing hair loss, which takes some time, bad sleep from surgical menopause, chatting with other people with cancer for emotional support and managing the emotions of my family. It sometimes feels that cancer is a second job.

What this has taught me is that I have been too focused on work and other people and I've completely ignored what I need myself. I need time and space to work out what this all means for my health and my future. But on the other hand I have also liked working a bit and feeling "normal".

Good luck. There is a supportive cancer thread in general health, not sure whether you've found it

I'm so sorry Op , I'm appalled that this has come from senior management, I would hope someone has challenged them on their lack of understanding and compassion.
Wishing you all the best xx

Everyone's journey is different. WFH might make it easier to work if feel up to it but you may not. You may be able to do reduced hours. It's not something anyone else can decide for you.

I've had cancer.
I was off from the biopsy that caused haemorrhaging, through the diagnosis and multiple staging examinations, treatment planning, endless appointments, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and 12 weeks recovery after - 6 months in total.

The whole thing was extraordinarily brutal - both physically and especially mentally. I've never cried as many tears as I did in between biopsy and treatment starting (that was the better bit)

I would never expect someone to work through any of it.

WFH is a double edged sword.

Now unless you're actually at death's door you're expected to log on because how hard can it be to work in your pjs from home. Except having cancer is a huge deal and you need time to recuperate after radiotherapy.

Unless those talking about it have actually been through radiotherapy themselves, they need to be quiet.

The thing is though, if you are going to be off from beginning to end of a cancer treatment you could be off for years. And we just wouldn't be paid for that long even though our policy is generous.

I will have been off work for 16 months from my cancer diagnosis. I am not cured.

Only now am I fit enough mentally and physically to return. I had major surgery and chemo and recovery took a while.

To anyone with cancer take the time you need. I have heard that some people felt they went back too soon.