Returning to work after cancer

[user76905421]

I recently returned to work after cancer and since I have been off my departments workload has doubled and become much more stressful.
Im struggling (which I hate to admit) and have asked my manager if I can move to a different department which is less stressful. Slightly lower pay but that doesn't bother me.
Manager has told me that I can't as I am needed in the other department due to staff shortages and how busy it is.
I feel so stressed and upset by it all. I have started looking for new jobs but lack of confidence is holding me back.

Have you had chemotherapy? I’ve been told that it will take at least six months to get my energy back to a decent level (obviously it’s different for everyone and I think it often takes a lot longer).
I’m a freelancer so my situation is slightly different, but I’ve been back at work for about six weeks now (finished chemo 3 months ago) and I’ve noticed that I have much less energy - though it comes and goes - but also much less tolerance for bullshit. I’ve lost a long-standing client this week (and good riddance) because we couldn’t find a middle ground between their needs and the fact that I can no longer work 60+-hour weeks. And even more than that, I really don’t want to!

Your employer needs to make reasonable adjustments for you under the Equality Act. Can you speak to the union?

I would take a look at some specialist advice from Macmillan too- they know what the drill is.

Have you had an Occupational Health assessment ?
When you have been off work with a long term illness, your employers need to make 'reasonable adjustments' to reintegrate you back into work, and that usually involves a phased return.

I finished chemo in the February, radiotherapy in June and returned to work in September. Looking back I hadn't had a chance to properly recover and I got really tired and had heads spins etc, plus was still traumatised. I needed to earn however but now I wished I'd played the system a bit more as have since seen people take time off work for much less. Hope it does well for you x

I returned to work a month after chemo and just as I started radiotherapy- I had brain fog for about a year after and v tired quickly for quite a while. I can remember having to pull the car over to have a sleep as it just crept up on me. If you have an HR could they help to make sure you are appropriately supported.I was lucky as I was able to ease back in on shorter hours at first.

I’m on a phased return as advised by OH but my 6 weeks is nearly up. I didn’t need chemo I had rai and I’m on thyroid hormone therapy.
I have been off work for nearly a year and physically I felt ready to go back, mentally not so much but I thought returning would help me recover a bit more mentally.