To ask, if you are a manager, how would you respond to this from your employee?

[atleastimtryin]

If your employee told you they were undergoing tests under an urgent 2 week referral. Obviously I know you'd wish them well, but would you feel concerned that it would affect their work/concentration? Would you try and make things easier for them in the meantime if possible e.g. make sure their workload is manageable or would you just carry on as normal?

Ask how they are, if they feel okay to carry on with their normal workload, let them now about support available from our EAP and to let me know if anything changes.

OP, I think it's best if you speak up and tell your manager what you would like them to do. Good luck with all the tests. Waiting / uncertainty is really hard

Wish them well and carry on. Not much that can be done really until test results are back.

As the employee I wouldn’t (and haven’t) said anything until I knew. What’s the point? Your manager isn’t your counsellor.

Each case on its merits. One of my staff's partner left recently. Staff was adamant they wanted to carry on as normal ( tough cookie..)

I was only going to tell my manager as it's likely I'll need to ask for time off as short notice, for an appointment as well as for a minor procedure. Do you think I shouldn't mention it and just mention the appointments at the time when they come through?

I am a manager and to be honest I'd ask them what their needs were. Something like 'While you're going through this is there any extra support I can provide?', I'd make it clear that we could look at flexible working/reduced responsibilities if required, but it would be their choice. Of my current staff members I have one that I am sure would hate to reduced responsibilities etc (just his personality) but I would always check.

Now if I was the employee (which some are indicating that they think you are) I would tell my manager what I needed if they weren't forthcoming with the question. I'd explain that I needed to work less/do less stressful work etc. At the end of the day a lot of managers expect employees to just come out with what they need/want and wouldn't think to pose the question.

I would mention it to your manager, not because you necessarily expect a certain response from them, but if it's playing on your mind then work isn't going to be your main focus and they need to know that.
It also means they are pre warned should you need time off.
Hope it all works out for you OP.

Some people keep things quiet, and some people don't. But that's just because different people cope with something like this differently. You should do what works for you.

If you have a good relationship with your line manager, then you may find it helpful to just tell them. It's ok to ask your manager to be supportive, if they're a decent human being they will do their best (even if it's not perfect). Just be prepared that they aren't mindreaders and won't necessarily know what you really want/need unless you tell them.