Gentian was diagnosed with rectal cancer in October 2017. Her employer was very understanding and supportive, but they hadn’t had an employee with cancer before so didn’t know how to support her. Gentian called Macmillan’s Work Support Service to find out about her rights at work and how her employer could support her to return to work when she felt ready.
I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in October 2017 and it was a real shock. I had previously had an unrelated breast cancer diagnosis in 2013 so my immediate reaction was ‘why me again?’ I felt that I was letting my family, friends and employers down by putting them through the stress and inconvenience of having to deal with my diagnosis and treatment.
I work as a Property Manager, looking after the structures and communal areas of blocks of flats and helping people to deal with problems they might be experiencing in their homes, like a leak or a fire. It can be quite a stressful role at times.
I decided to talk with my managers as soon as I was diagnosed. They were extremely supportive and understanding. I was given the option of signing off work straight away, but I chose to continue working until my treatment started and luckily I was able to work from home during this time. I know everyone’s different but I just wanted to keep myself busy and continue as normally as possible for as long as I could.
When I decided to return to work, both my employers and I were unsure about my rights so I called the Macmillan Support Line and spoke with one of their Work Support Advisers. They explained that I could request ‘reasonable adjustments’ to help my return and explained what a reasonable adjustment might look like. They also sent me Macmillan’s Rights at Work and Managing Cancer in the Workplace booklets.
It was so helpful having this information to hand when I met with my manager. We used it to agree some adjustments to my hours and duties, including working from home, working fewer hours and adjusting my contract so that my hours were calculated over the month rather than on specific days. Making these adjustments really helped me to get back to work.
Returning was difficult at first, having been off for nearly a year, but I’m really enjoying it. Unfortunately, my cancer has now spread to my lungs to I’m receiving treatment and being regularly monitored. But getting back to work has helped me to regain a sense of normality and made me feel a valued member of my work team. It has made me feel like ‘me’ again.
I was pleased to be asked to tell my story and help others living with cancer understand their rights at work. The guidance and support I received from Macmillan’s Work Support Service really helped me get back to work and I’d advise anyone who is thinking about returning to work or who wants to understand more about their rights at work after a cancer diagnosis to get in touch. The team is available Monday – Friday from 9am – 5pm on the usual Macmillan number – 0808 808 00 00. Or you can find out more about your rights at work here.
Questions about work and cancer? Speak to one of our Work Support Advisers on the Macmillan Support Line, Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm on 0808 808 00 00.
