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 have many lovely colleagues but very few seem to really understand that I'm not, and may never be, back to full fitness

I'm not saying don't send the letter but I think, sadly, it might be that nothing you write is going to help people fully understand. I had a disability for a long time and until people experience something similar, many really can't grasp it. Attempts to explain it can actually lead to anger and resentment because some people think you're essentially trying to tell them you're a special case when they are struggling with their own issues. I think you'll have to be very careful about how you word anything you do send and expect that people still won't get it. It's a lonely situation to be in and my heart goes out to you with what you've gone through but lots and lots of people are struggling with serious problems or invisible disabilities and just having to muddle through. It would be lovely if more people cared but they don't.

@Floomph makes a good point.

Attempts to explain it can actually lead to anger and resentment because some people think you're essentially trying to tell them you're a special case when they are struggling with their own issues.

You don't know what's going on in other people's lives at this point. Their difficulties managing at work might be different from yours, but they could be just as debilitating, and they might not be getting the help that they need. You don't really want to give the impression that you think you're a special snowflake compared to them because Cancer.

Floomph I agree. I have not had cancer, but a serious life long and life limiting illness. It does not matter how many times I explain it, I still get the same people saying things like - you are tired already?

I hope I don't seem to come across hard in my post above. I lost my husband to cancer a few years ago. And what I did realise throughout his illness , and felt bad about, is that we got SO much more help and consideration from people, than families whose loved one had a similarly serious/debilitating/life shortening or painful disease. So many agencies helping us that people with other illnesses didn't get, etc.

So I do tend to think of the people struggling at work with mental health, constant pain etc, who get no consideration and wouldn't dare even think of sending an email asking people to be thoughtful.

saraclara That is interesting. As I said I have a serious life limiting illness and sometimes come across resentment from other sufferers that they would get more help and understanding if they had cancer. The illness I have is very rare and there is really nothing there for those who are very ill (which I am not) beyond NHS treatment and GPs.

OP I think any resentment is totally unwarranted. I guess just be aware that it can occur.

That sounds sensible. But I suddenly thought... Aren't they legally liable if you're back full time but not fully fit & you become ill or stressed because of that? My work were advised by Legal not to let anyone back full time until they were physically able to carry out their duties as before/as per job spec. This was due to someone who came back too early after an op & relapsed & blamed them, even tho they'd insisted they were OK to return before the Dr's stated 6weeks.

@jennymanara
The line you quoted is only one part of the Act. The bit about medical treatment is later on.

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/schedule/1

See paragraph 5- Effect of medical treatment

Crohn’s is not something that you ‘treat and gets better’. It is a lifelong illness, that in my case is kept under control by medication and lifestyle changes. I still have Crohn’s, I am just displaying few symptoms at the moment.