Working during cancer treatment: Advice to help you manage

Last updated Sept. 22, 2023

Working during cancer treatment can be challenging. What do you say to coworkers? Will you be able to take off for doctor’s appointments and scheduled treatments?

For answers to these questions and more, we spoke to Jessica Blanc, social work counselor in our Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) program.

Research your benefit options

Once you have a treatment plan, one of the first things you’ll want to do is speak with your company’s HR department about your benefit
options.

“You may not know if your company has an Extended Illness Bank or even how it works,” says Blanc. “You probably have paid time off (PTO), but what’s the difference between that and sick time? Does your company allow coworkers to donate to your PTO? In the beginning, you may not know what you need, so getting these questions answered can help a great deal.”

Young adult patients often have questions about retirement
benefits.

“When our patients in their 20s and 30s attend benefits and retirement seminars, they often feel like the standard rules don’t apply to them because of certain risk factors or risk of cancer recurrence, and they feel uncertain planning for their future,” says Blanc. “They’re wondering where they should put their money or how to invest. I often refer patients to online resources that can help answer their questions about insurance and financial planning.”   

Set boundaries with coworkers

Whether, when and what you tell your coworkers about your cancer treatment is entirely up to you. If you decide to share details of your treatment, it’s important to set boundaries early on.

“You could start by saying, ‘These are the topics I’m comfortable
talking about. Outside of that, it’s really my business,’” says Blanc. “With the workplace, you have a concrete boundary of saying, ‘This isn’t the place.’”

If coworkers ask questions that you don’t feel comfortable answering, Blanc suggests framing conversations with ‘I feel’ to identify your feelings and help others better receive what you’re saying.

“You might say, ‘I feel like work is my opportunity to feel normal’ or ‘It really makes me feel like I have a place of normalcy when we just talk about regular stuff at work, and I don’t have to talk about my cancer.’”

Let coworkers know that while you truly appreciate their concern, your time in the office is when you want to be productive and focus on work.

Coordinate your work schedule with treatments

Depending on the type of cancer treatment you receive, you may need to miss several days of work. Plan for as much of this as you can
ahead of time to help things run smoother.

“If you can, try to schedule chemotherapy treatments on Fridays, so you have the weekends to rest,” says Blanc. “Or figure out if there are days where a colleague can take some work off your load.”

Being honest with your employer and having a plan in place is important.

“Tell them you know what your treatment is going to look like, but you don’t know how you’re going to feel,” she says. “Play up your strengths and share how you plan to complete projects and get your work done. It’s OK to ask for help on the days you need it.”

Ask your employer what flexibility you have with your work
schedule.

“I think COVID-19 had a big influence on helping companies reframe what work can look like,” says Blanc. “Do you have to be in the office five days a week? Can you work remotely, either temporarily or in certain situations?”

If you’re an MD Anderson patient and feel unsure about how to approach these conversations with your employer, you can reach out to a social work counselor for guidance.

Manage cancer treatment side effects

Side effects from treatment can pose a challenge when working during cancer treatment. It can be difficult focusing on work when you’re not feeling well.

“One of the most common side effects we hear patients deal with at work is chemobrain, or difficulty processing information,” says Blanc. “So many patients think they won’t have this problem because they’re always so organized. But remembering dates, work projects and doctor’s appointments becomes challenging.”

It’s easy to get overwhelmed quickly.

“Chemobrain is probably the most frustrating side effect for patients because it’s not visible and sometimes it can continue even after treatment is completed,” she says. “Patients feel even more vulnerable because if they’ve finished treatment, but still have lingering side effects, it can lead to insecurity.”

It’s important patients feel validated, adds Blanc, so she introduces them to resources like myCancerConnection, MD Anderson’s one-on-one cancer support community, where they can connect with other patients experiencing similar struggles to help them feel less isolated. She also encourages patients and caregivers to join virtual support groups.

“It can be enlightening to say, ‘You know what? I’m actually going through something really challenging right now, and it’s OK that I’m
struggling a bit,’” she says.

Minimize stress to avoid burnout

Work stress can also be amplified during cancer treatment.

“You often want to do everything and be everything to everyone all the time like you were before the cancer diagnosis, but it’s just not possible,” says Blanc. “Find out what can give way to something else. For example, if you need an extra day off after chemo because you feel nauseous, take that day for yourself.” 

Stretching yourself too thin can lead to burnout at work.

“If you have some coping skills in place, it’s good to tap into those. You may need to restructure your workday,” she says. “I always tell
patients as they’re going through treatment to gather data about themselves. What days do you tend to feel more tired? When do you feel more energized or focused? Once you see certain patterns, take that and apply it to your job, so you’re more productive and not setting unrealistic goals for yourself.” 

Know when to pivot or change careers

Some cancer patients have trouble finding a balance between healing and finding comfort in their new normal or finding joy in work.

“You worked hard and did all this training toward your career, and then you got cancer. Now work’s not the biggest part of your life
anymore,” says Blanc. “You want to contribute, but cancer can make that hard at times. Now you have to find the balance between ‘what can I do to still fulfill that part of me that wants to work in this role, but also take care of myself.’”

Start by determining what fills that void. It could be part-time work, volunteering, special projects or hobbies. You may learn that your work isn’t fulfilling you in the same way it did prior to your cancer diagnosis.

“There could be tasks related to your job that you don’t feel you’re able to do anymore, whether physically or mentally,” she says. “I’ve had some patients who work in the medical field have a hard time
returning to their job and working with cancer patients because it’s triggering for them.”

In those instances, Blanc suggests giving yourself more time to readjust, or consider exploring other career opportunities.

“Some people are specialized in one field, so they feel stuck,” she says. “If you’re having to come to terms with the fact that now you get fatigued easily or don’t feel as confident because of chemobrain, are you willing to pivot?”

Anybody who’s been through cancer is going to have a value shift, and sometimes work is a part of that, adds Blanc.

For young adults who may just be starting out in their careers, the transition may be a bit easier.

If you’re an AYA patient at MD Anderson, you can speak with a vocational counselor to help with your career transition. Ask your care team to place an AYA consult.

“Our AYA vocational counselor can help you explore other career interests and identify adjacent career fields,” she says. “This can be
especially helpful for patients who had very labor-intensive jobs. You can take inventory of the skills you have, identify which skills you need and get connected to resources online or locally to help you develop those skills, so you feel confident returning to work or finding a new career.”     

Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or by calling 1-877-632-6789.