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?

I’m not suggesting it’s easy either just we all have different experience and perceptions.
In truth, apart from a few days off each chemo cycle and part time during radio, plus a couple of sepsis admissions for a few days, I’m not sure I’ve ever needed reasonable adaptations for cancer. It has to be the right fit for individuals, doesn’t it?
My eyelashes are still my bete noir nine years on. Tamoxifen is a walk in the park compared to trying individual false eyelashes.

Definitely wishing you a wonderful return to work too 💐, take it easy and build in step up hours as you won't know how hard it is to return to work physically, until you've tried it- much better to build up slowly from half days (half days first two weeks, maybe half +1 hour next two weeks, etc over 8-16 weeks) to regain your stamina and ability to concentrate. Anyone who has been off even 8 weeks would find same difficult (but shorter time off might step up quicker after first two -4 weeks which are the worst) , so it's not a reflection on time you but a necessity. Returning to work gives you headaches, using different part of your brain again that has gone into hibernation and tapped out, to let other survival parts take over during your first fight of many.

My friend who lost her hair, after chemo and radiation for breast cancer, prewarned me about her "chemo curly" hair that was coming through growing back. I'd known her 20 years and never ever seen her with tight curly hair before. We had fun finding new hair bands together over lunchtime shopping to vary her new hairstyle as it grew and it became this delightful new look for her that neither of us had expected - but her Macmillan nurse had pre-warned might happen . I was SO glad she told me the stuff she didn't feel ok to talk to others about, cos I was all matter of fact (when she couldn't bear to respond anymore) "it's chemo curly hair matey , it's her badge of honour!" 🥰

I can see many advantages to this if you are comfortable doing it. The person who asked you to the zoo, for example, might have felt that she had to ask you so that you didn't feel left out & overlooked whilst privately thinking that, given your recent return, surely you wouldn't be up to it. On the other hand, she may be annoyed that you have returned, seemingly in good health & humour yet are refusing to help out by accompanying the trip. Clear communication would sort any misunderstandings around this and a lot of other things out. But I am a very open person and realise others may hate this sort of approach.
I also believe there is a lot to be said for giving your pupils some age appropriate information. Yes, there is a risk they may play up but there seems more chance that they will help you where possible.

@WillLokireturn omg so it is a thing. I've always been curly but this is something else. My hair grows up literally not down 😂 it's so puffy and it's taking ages

Having cancer diagnosis is classed as a disability, how long for I'm not sure but it is so that reasonable adjustments can be made.

Yes but not for ever, if you have been given the all clear, then you have been given the all clear. Even insurance premiums acknowledge that.

when I had my back to work meeting with my head, I didn't really know what I'd need with reasonable adjustments.

No, I didn't either - I way WAY too confident about what I could manage, and hadn't had as much horrific treatment as you.

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.

You only working 5 mornings, or having Wednesdays days off, or whatever you think would enable to you to cope, wouldn't be on a reduced salary, it would be a 'phased return to work', done properly. Yes, it can change even after you've set up your original 'what I think I might be able to do' meeting.

A cancer diagnosis means you are classed as disabled under the Equalities Act from the diagnosis onwards.

But my point is, many, many people aren't.
I absolutely am aware treatment can go on for years (as mine did), but once you are given the all clear then that is it.
If you have heart damage from the treatment or the illness, then that means you may have a lifelong disability, but it doesn't mean everyone who has had cancer has a life long disability.

I personally am shocked you are trying to do a full teaching timetable so soon after diagnosis and brutal treatment. I am absolutely supporting and encouraging you to take further advice from your Union and from Occupational Health about your phased return and the adjustments the school should be making, but it is important not to lump everyone who has ever had a cancer diagnosis into the same boat.

As CherryPavlova said, you can explain what it is like for you, but please don't say 'this is what it is like for everyone who has had a cancer diagnosis.

Yes but do take advice on how to word it. A colleague did this when her child was undergoing cancer treatment, asking us to let her know if we had a cold etc before going into meetings with her etc. It helped that she was specific.

@BackforGood are you sure re: salary
I was told I would be paid for the hours I do I. E 0.2 0.4....

BackForGood you are 100% classed as disabled in regards to employment for the rest of your days. Seriously. I'm not going to start shouting out credentials to you but Google it and you will see that very easily.

@BackforGood people who are in remission or are cured are still legally covered by legislation.

This protection does not end when your treatment finishes. You have legal protection against discrimination even when you are in remission (no signs of the cancer) or are cured.
An employer must not treat you less favourably for any reason related to cancer you had in the past. It also covers you when you no longer need treatment or move to another employer*

The Equality Act and the DDA protects anyone who has or previously had cancer. If you had cancer in the past and are in remission (no signs of the cancer) or are cured, you are still covered. People applying for jobs and in many cases people who are self employed are also protected

be.macmillan.org.uk/Downloads/CancerInformation/WorkAndCancer/MAC11675Work-and-cancere6lowrespdf20161114ALM.pdf

I hope the SLT read your emails and explaination of what you are able to do and will provide extra support for both you and for the rest of the team. Colleagues are usually happy to help out to some extent but they are only human and can only do a limited amount of extra duties. I speak from experience with a colleague who has a long term medical condition (not cancer) but has long periods of sickness and then time off for treatment plus recovery we all have to do her work - eventually we managed to get someone extra to help clear the work

@BackforGood

Once someone has a cancer diagnosis, they are protected under the Equalities Act 2010, even if there is no longer any evidence of disease and/or they have finished treatment. Whether an individual personally considers themselves disabled or not is another matter.

OP can I just add a tiny word of caution. Just be aware that there may be colleagues with serious illnesses who also struggle a lot to continue working. So don't assume this is a situation unique to you.

Ok, just having read the comments whilst I took ages to type and post mine. ..

I'm in similiar but not rescuing field and will tell you what is usual back to work phase in, given your info so far.

Reasonable adjustments after 6 months to a year off for cancer, if expect to see 6-12 week phase in of half
hours building up to full time hours (fully paid for as full time) or longer/shorter (no less than 6-8 weeks) as required.

It's all about building stamina and not putting back your recovery. No one wants that, as you are important.

So, think in terms of starting slow, reviewing as you go regularly with your managers, and building up as you go, in a phased return. Best in mind you might catch more viruses, so your recovery might get out back.
If you don't ask your manager won't give it to you, so talk to your GP/nurse, and say whomever has advised you/or just say they have.

I'd plan for 2 weeks half days (8:30-12), then review. If gone well, half days +1 hour (8:30-1pm) 2 weeks. Review again at back to work meeting.
If gone well, maybe 1 week 8:30-2,1 week 8:30-3/3.30pm but with NO extras, (so phased return to work includes day or half day off teaching each week if you need to do other stuff/prep/marking as well but no extra curricular evening meetings nor after-school or lunchtime activity stuff til at least 10-12 weeks) or maybe 2 weeks each or slow it down or hold it there.

Think about it being an approx 12 week plan about batting off the extras til you build up your stamina, and you can't go wrong, as you need to protect your health and recovery , so that you can be an effective team member.
Of course that might not suit you, but it's not a bad generic plan to work upward or downward from

Sorry, I'm not trying to pick at you BackForGood but it's not fair for the OP to be given such wrong advice; OP you will not be entitled to pay for hours that you don't work. An organisation might be supportive and give a FT wage for a phased return but it's a courtesy. If you reduce your hours to 0.6 you will get paid 0.6 of your salary.

*similar but not TEACHING field. Sorry auto-correct changed it to " rescuing "

@BackforGood.
Maybe my original post wasn't clear. I am already back full time. My phased return was from end of March for 6 school weeks and I had seen occupational health prior to that.
When I say classed as disabled, I mean in terms of employment law, not blue badge type disabled and it does last forever as does the right to reasonable adjustments. I would never dream of speaking for anyone but myself or claim that my experience is universal.

I would truthfully find this a bit heavy handed and patronising. Perhaps if it came from HR or a manager as a general memo it would be better.

I have had a colleague come back to work after cancer treatment and she was very open and honest about the toll it had taken on her. I appreciated this and took it in to account, some of the things I may not have realised had she not said but I think it’s better discussed informally.

As others have said your colleagues may be all too aware of the effects of Cancer on themselves and loved ones and may not want or need to be reminded in this way.

@StrippingTheVelvet
A local authority in UK will, which schools generally are. As a negotiated phased return, that's not excessive .

Damn my slow typing before I post! Ah so @bsmirched you're already full time back to work. That's great, hope it went well. XXX

I had no idea cancer was classed as a disability for ever. Does seems strange when cancer really is not one disease but an umbrella term, and this the impacts can be so widely different.

Thanks for all the help and advice everyone.

bsmirched I would be really appreciative of a sensible email, outlining your general situation and limitations, if any. Your HR team should perhaps be the ones to send it, with a cover statements of their support and expectations of all.

Be kind to yourself; this is not a fun journey

Will nowhere have I said it's excessive... I absolutely think a decent employer should pay a FT wage for a reasonable phased return.

@DarkDarkNight it's not really feasible to have informal chats with a hundred colleagues spread out over a large school campus. The only opportunity for the op to share would be to speak at a staff meeting (which would not even include all support staff) or by email as the she said.

Plus how can it be patronising when everyone's particular case and struggles are going be unique to them? And frankly, so what if one colleague in 100 thinks its patronising - they really need to see the bigger picture if they do.

Macmillan give some advice about taking to people at work on the link below, and the previous link posted gives info on reasonable adjustments and phased return. However from experience most people don’t want to talk about it, and simply can’t empathise...

www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/organising/work-and-cancer/information-for-employees/talking-to-your-employer.html