To email colleagues about the realities of returning to work after cancer treatment.

[bsmirched]

I have recently returned to work full time as a teacher after having a year off for treatment for breast cancer that included chemo, a mastectomy with full lymph node clearance and radiotherapy.
I am - and will continue to be for the foreseeable future - on several pretty potent drug therapies with various delightful side effects. I was having herceptin but that has given me moderate heart failure.
I have many lovely colleagues but very few seem to really understand that I'm not, and may never be, back to full fitness. There is a very good reason why anyone who's had cancer is classed as disabled in terms of employment for the rest of their working lives.
I absolutely don't blame anyone for thinking that now, several months on from the last of the major treatments and with a phased return completed, I should be back to normal. I'm sure anyone who hasn't been through it themselves or been closely involved with someone who has, might assume that.
I'm considering emailing everyone with some info on long term cancer treatment effects as well as on the drugs I'm still on. It wouldn't be done in an attempt for pity or to patronise or have a go at them, but just as a plea for some understanding that I may need to sit down more often and may not cope with taking a class on a trip out for a day.
Is this a horrendous idea do you think?

@StrippingTheVelvet to be honest when I had my back to work meeting with my head, I didn't really know what I'd need with reasonable adjustments. I've been wondering if I can ask for additional PPA.
Unfortunately I don't really have any choice about working. I could possibly go down to 4 days if I was absolutely desperate.

Op, maybe you wont really know what adjustments you will need until you are actually back at work. if you get joint pain etc form the Herceptin then maybe extra breaks etc may be beneficial.

I think this is a good idea, but think you need to make it more about what you need during your remaining treatment. With some cross-referencing to common experiences and general Good Things.

I put it like that because it’s different for everyone. My critical illness didn’t pay out because I wasn’t ill enough! And of course different drug regimes have quite different side effects, leading to different ongoing needs.

I would be very interested in where it legally states that someone who has had cancer is classed as disabled - having had cancer myself.

I think an email or a memo would be a really good idea but obviously run it past however you consider your closest boss to be before hand.

Wish you well OP

If you're going to do that, don't fall into the trap of giving too much detail and information. Keep it as brief and as concise as you can. Because a) people lose interest very quickly, and b) you might start to give the impression that you're incapable of doing the job adequately and that everyone's going to have to carry you (rather than simply be understanding. Also c) you might end up seeming very self absorbed. (I say that because I did that once, and when I look back at the screed I wrote, I still blush with embarrassment at my level of self absorption - however understandable it might have been at the time)

You don't want people not seeing you as 'you' any more. Presumably you don't want to be treated with kid gloves and sentimentality.

So be brief and professional, and only tell them what they really need to know. No lists of drug names, no wordy examples or explanations. Just a simple couple of paragraphs indicating where some of your problems might lie.

Greybird under the Equality act of 2010 - you are classed as having a disability from day one of a cancer diagnosis.

Yes definitely ask for it. It's all about prevention rather than cure. You can also ask for regular supervision, even if it's just a half hour slot in the diary once a month for someone to say "how are you" where you can raise things before they get on top of you without having to make a big thing out of it.

I know people who have asked as a reasonable adjustment that their workload remains constant (ie they're not to be asked to do extra) as it puts them in a position of looking awkward by saying no.

The union mightn't have the most specialist advice on the matter but if you tell them what you need, they should be able to help you have the conversation.

@GreyBird84 What the Equality Act means for people with cancer
The Equality Act considers a diagnosis of cancer as a disability. You don’t have to have symptoms or consider yourself disabled by your cancer to be covered. But the Act gives you important rights.

@BackforGood
A cancer diagnosis means you are classed as disabled under the Equalities Act from the diagnosis onwards. The people you know must have been incredibly lucky to have recovered so very well but hopefully others' responses on here have shown that some side effects can be life long.
I may well be on some of the drugs for 10 years so the treatment isn't ending any time soon.
As I mentioned in my OP, herceptin has damaged my heart and so even that on it's own means I tire more easily.

I think you need to be careful to explain its your personal truth and experience but not everyone’s, to be honest.
My experience is very different. I didn’t want special treatment and worked through chemo. I worked part time through radio only because of daily appointments. I didn’t tell most people I work with because I specifically didn’t want to be spoken to with people touching my arm and holding their head on one side.
Each person is different and reacts differently so a ‘this is how cancer feels’ won’t be true for anyone but yourself.Thats not minimising the impact on you but also personally not wanting to be ‘a person with cancer’.

Apologies for derailing OP.

Are you considered disabled for indefinitely for life or is it whilst you are undergoing or recovering from treatment?

I had a year off work following major surgery, I asked my line manager to send an email explaining I would be returning to work on a phased return, I wasn't my pre surgery self yet and that I would need a little time to get back into things. Also mentioned a few changes in how I would be working, made me feel less conscious about 'pulling my weight'.

The disability thing is interesting and v useful to know. A colleague came back after cancer treatment inc mastectomy and just went straight back to full duties. How long does that last for, the consideration of disability?

Hi OP I think it would be really helpful to share this. Teachers do tend to take the view that if you're in work and FT that means you can go hell for leather. However I would run your email idea past your HT first.

Are you getting support from your union and occupational health? They can all ensure you get the support you are entitled to. It would probably be useful to have update meetings with your HT if/when your circumstances change, to keep them aware, especially as you say it's already different from your return to work interview.

I really hope your school is a supportive one. God knows education isn't a great environment when you're healthy! X

Truthfully I would really appreciate that if I was a colleague.
This^^ 1000x over

Another here saying what a brilliant idea.

Keep it brief and targeted to what you want them to know as less detail is more ( better to do three short paragraphs or bullet points of half a page, A4/5) or people don't read it and just scan (from my experience) and then it's not been as effective.

I'd definitely appreciate that from a colleague and feel pleased she (or he'd) given me a heads up. As we/they won't know otherwise (unless we/they have had someone close go through something similar).
People /colleagues often want to help and be mindful, but don't like to ask.

@Cherrypavlova I completely see that. I think I'm coming across here as someone sitting in the staff room with my head in my hands and feeling sorry for myself but I'm honestly not. Everyone has said how positive I've been and I am generally an upbeat person with a good sense of humour. I think this is just the first time I've been honest about how I feel!

Bsmirched, I had no idea about the long-term effects of cancer treatment. Get your slt on board and your line manager too. Wishing you all the very best.

Your union rep (go to regional if at all possible) will be able to help negotiate better terms for you.

Work should have referred you to Occy Health as well, as they can also provide recommendations.

To be honest, thinking about it some more, I'd ask your head or line manager to send out the email. S/he can quote your words, but I think an introduction and sign off from the head would be more professional, and demonstrate that it isn't just you asking a favour of people.

When I went back on phased return, I discovered that my head had already done this for me, based on the conversation we'd had with HR when my phased return was planned. I appreciated that she did that. It meant it wasn't just me asking a favour of people. It was an instruction.

@GreyBird84 it's for life.

Johnny someone with a cancer diagnosis will always be considered as being disabled. Reasonable adjustments will last for as long as they are required whether that be a few weeks or for the remainder of their employment (as long as it remains a reasonable request to provide).

Don't mistake it though, employers and colleagues tend to consistently underestimate what the definition of what reasonable constitutes.

I really think your colleagues would appreciate this, and I think you will feel better for letting them know where you are at at this stage in your recovery. Jenny 35’s email covers it by letting your colleagues know what’s what in a factual way, without flowering it up. So pleased you’re feeling strong. It’s takes strength of character and bravery to go through and be dealing with what you have so far and what you are now. Be proud, and stay strong. Best wishes to you.

Definitely. I had emergency spinal surgery and there was a lot of "why is your back still hurting?"
I had to explain the op was to get rid of leg pain and stop paralysis, and because they took a shock absorber out my spine, I was likely to always have back pain, and no, I couldn't do high impact stuff or go straight back to sitting down for 8hrs straight!
Things like people bumping into me would jar my back and explaining helped a lot

So someone who had a small skin cancer completely excised with a few weeks recovery is considered to have a disability for the rest of their lives in the same way that someone who is having ongoing treatment for years with side effects ? Seems odd but I guess it would be hard to differentiate ?

@bsmirched it's even more important you communicate with your colleagues because like many of us you put a good face on, and people fail to understand your reality.
I'm meant to be seeing a occupational health soon to discuss phased return and adjustments at work (lost my hearing post chemo) have you seen one?