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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Time off for cancer

73 replies

Angels1111 · 08/09/2025 22:50

What is your work policy like regarding time off for cancer?

I always assumed one would go off sick from the day of diagnosis to the day the doctor announces you're in remission.

But, I have a friend who goes into work when she can between treatments because "she doesn't want to run out of sick days". She's a nurse, on her feet all day, and powers through with energy drinks and breakroom naps, only missing days when she really can't do it.

In her support group, another has carried on working so she isn't in the limelight for redundancy, and another to keep her mind off how sick she feels.
The rest are retired.

...it just surprises me as it's such a brutal disease...and I thought surely the body needs a rest to recover properly and sickness policies should allow for this?
I also thought the sickness, pain, fatigue and anxiety would be too distracting for people to.work, but apparently not!

OP posts:

SusanChurchouse · 09/09/2025 08:25

I took an extended period off for cancer treatment. My work are funny about taking more than one absence for the same illness. And although I could have feasibly worked at points during treatment, the nature of my job means it’s not easy to dip in and out. I am actually returning before I want to so as not to lose pay, but thankfully my duties will be amended. Hoping it might provide a distraction.

FcukBreastCancer · 09/09/2025 08:29

Nhs have 6 months full pay. At least my dh does.

Ive just been diagnosed so interested in responses. Ive not worked much since as felt unwell. Was terrified it was the cancer, but now my sore throat and swollen glands suggest a virus.

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 09/09/2025 08:33

The NHS scheme ramps up based on length of service to a max of 6 months full, 6 months half after 5 years service. If you’ve not worked there that long, or have had sickness absence in the year before it will be less than that.

BeaLola · 09/09/2025 08:34

Where I work I could have had 6months off on full pay.

However whilst I had cancer mine was caught incredibly early and did not involve as much treatment etc that others go through.

I also only work part time and welcomed the "normality" of work and not having time to dwell on things at certain moments.

I had breast conserving surgery - I took 2 weeks off and then went back to work - I had 5 intensive radiotherapy sessions and not all fell on my workdays but as I felt very tired during this period I think one day I went home early (not treated as sick), and another day where treatment was delayed I didn't go in (not treated as sick).

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 09/09/2025 08:37

The majority people can’t afford to live on SSP for a week, let alone for months on end.

SoftPillow · 09/09/2025 08:40

For cancer it is full pay for us, for as long as is needed.

We are guided by the needs of the individual and often have part time working, or reduced hours as they do want to work when they’re able.

AllTheChaos · 09/09/2025 08:51

I went in to work between treatments and surgery, because I could and I wanted to, but a colleague who needed multiple bouts of chemo really couldn’t work, and took a year off. Luckily my company were very supportive. I had critical illness insurance until I was senior enough in my organisation from them to provide it instead, because as a single parent I was very aware that if I couldn’t work for any reason I needed a means to support my young child.

dottiedodah · 09/09/2025 08:54

I am in remission from Ovarian Cancer.Very grateful that I am semi retired now and dont have the pressures of work to deal with! I think so much depends on how you are as a person ,what your treatment is like .whether you have Chemo and so on.

Thelonelydonkey · 09/09/2025 08:57

It's really variable. Depends on job, personality, cancer type, prognosis, treatment, sick pay entitlement and financial set up.

Some patients take one or 2 days off per chemo cycle and continue working throughout radiotherapy. Others get signed off from the time of diagnosis til 6 months post treatment .

Woodwalk · 09/09/2025 08:58

I'd be on SSP only, which runs out after 28 weeks. At my workplace I've only so far been aware of one person with cancer and she reduced her hours and worked whenever she was able to.

Starlight1984 · 09/09/2025 08:58

I always assumed one would go off sick from the day of diagnosis to the day the doctor announces you're in remission.

What?! I don't know a single person who has gone off work sick at the point of diagnosis!

As others have said, people can live with cancer for years and years. Some people don't even have symptoms for a long time. My ex SIL had breast cancer (picked up on a mammogram) and didn't even need / have treatment for 5 years from the point of diagnosis - it was just monitored regularly.

There are far too many variables and also every person is different. A lot of people prefer working to keep a normal routine and many won't get paid if they are off.

AirborneElephant · 09/09/2025 09:04

I worked through on a reduced hours agreement. Six months full sick pay which was great, but treatment took a year so working helped me stretch that out as well as helping keep me mentally and physically active. There are times you can’t or don’t want to do anything other than sit on the sofa, but plenty of other times when you can do normal activities. Staying active helps prognosis (or possibly those who can stay active have a better prognosis, but you cling to any hope offered).

Acinonyx2 · 09/09/2025 09:06

I intended to carry on as much as possible but when I started chemo I was too sick to work - and my work is very inflexible so couldn't just do it on better days. I took the 6 months. Then I needed more chemo after surgery so treatment went on for another 10 months. I didn't take more sick leave but I went part time - it was still difficult but I managed. I couldn't afford to just stop work and I had run out of sick leave. No company can afford indefinite sick leave - imagine if you were running your own company - how would you manage that? I certainly don't know anyone who just took leave from day of diagnosis.

Yorkshiremum80 · 09/09/2025 09:09

I work for a bank, my boss had breast cancer and went off when she started chemo. She was then off on full pay for 18 months, she came back when she had been given the all clear. Before coming back she was told all her annual leave had accrued so she took an extra month off and travelled. This is one of many reasons I will probably never leave.

Mrsttcno1 · 09/09/2025 09:10

Not everybody gets sick pay from their employer, and even fewer have unlimited sick pay. It’s why it’s so important to have critical illness/income protection cover so that you have the ability to rest/recover without having to worry about finances really.

Shutupkeith · 09/09/2025 09:14

I am surprised she is doing this way as in the NHS 6 months sick leave would only be classed as one episode whereas taking regular days as sick leave all mounts up to various stages of the sickness policy and is frowned upon. Unless she is a relatively newly qualified Nurse she should be entitled to up to 6 months full pay.

Oooooooh · 09/09/2025 09:16

My work policy is very good. Up to 6 months full pay depending on length of service then all employees have income protection insurance as part of their package which pays 70% salary for as long as a doctor says you’re too sick to work.

I took over 2 years! But I had a lot of treatment, 3 different types of treatment including 5 courses of chemotherapy. I was in tatters. 2 other employees are still working whilst going through chemo. They have their reasons!

Mulledjuice · 09/09/2025 09:20

For many they dont feel especially ill at the point of diagnosis - it's further down the line that they'll need the break.

Even 6 months full + 6 months 50% won't be enough to cover some households especially if it's the higher earner who's ill.

My OH's already more than 1 year post diagnosis and we reckon there's another 9 months before all of his treatment is complete (although others will be more like a year).

One of the first things I did after my OH cancer diagnosis was to add enhanced cancer cover and increase my own CI cover - it's not a cheap business, and I'm not statistically less likely to get it just because my partner has it.

Enigma54 · 09/09/2025 09:33

As others have said, there are so many variables. I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2023. I started on targeted therapy, which cleared my symptoms and put the cancer to sleep. After the initial side effects wore off, I was able to work following an 8 month sickness period (hysterectomy for a different cancer! )

Fast forward less than a year and my other cancer has returned. I’ve been off for over 28 weeks, so SSP runs out this week. I’m on systemic chemo, it’s brutal. I get sick, neutropenic and I’ve no hair. None of this is conducive with my type of work. My cancer is painful at times and it’s hard work to keep myself pain free.

I don’t know what my future holds, but I will eventually be dismissed due to ill health I expect.

Life is shit. I love my job and need routine. But no, cancer has to fuck that up.

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 09/09/2025 09:40

I have 2 friends who recently survived cancer. One stopped working the whole time and was supported by wealthy family members. She was out of work for 2 years. And then only went back a couple days a week.

The other, quite high up in a charity, was forced to plough through when she could. - even after surgery she was wfh.

I bet you can guess which one is in better health now.....

Omeara · 09/09/2025 09:45

My friend had three days off when she had her lumpectomy and then took extended lunch breaks for her chemo (and made up the time). The household was relying on her salary and she was also worried, as a bit of a ‘one-off’ in the workplace, that she would get made redundant if her duties were reallocated whilst she was off.

She did enjoy her job though and it was a distraction from difficulties at home.

She sadly died last year, the day she went into hospital she was dressed for work.

Omeara · 09/09/2025 09:47

Enigma54 · 09/09/2025 09:33

I don’t know what my future holds, but I will eventually be dismissed due to ill health I expect.

Life is shit. I love my job and need routine. But no, cancer has to fuck that up.

I’ve reacted with a heart, not because I love your post but there’s no unmumsnetty hug to react with instead.

I wish you well for your ongoing journey x

Enigma54 · 09/09/2025 10:05

Omeara · 09/09/2025 09:47

I’ve reacted with a heart, not because I love your post but there’s no unmumsnetty hug to react with instead.

I wish you well for your ongoing journey x

Show quote history

How kind, thankyou 😊

Northernlights19 · 09/09/2025 10:07

Many employers are still awful about sickness, cancer or not. I work in care and some companies and managers can be absolutely awful. The manager of somewhere I worked previously used to speak in such a derogatory way about a colleagues previous cancer and would say things like "she really milked it, she didn't even have chemotherapy". Absolutely disgusting.

There is also the financial aspect, many people can't even afford a week on SSP never mind anything more.

BellaVita · 09/09/2025 10:09

My son (28 who passed away on the 29th June) went back to work albeit part-time after he was diagnosed with a GMB4 (brain tumour) in June 2022. It was his choice. He had two craniotomies, radiotherapy and various chemo treatments. It was his way of coping. He was paid SSP during the time he was off for the craniotomies. He lived at home so didn't have the worry of running a household.

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