Do you feel you have the right support at work?
Lots of people affected by cancer, like Elvina, don’t always feel they have the support they need from their employer, manager, or from the sickness policies in place at work. Lots of people may feel worried about work when they are affected by cancer.
Here in the Online Community, we’re featuring a new series working with Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling Project, where people affected by cancer have created their own videos to talk about their experiences. As July’s story of the month, Elvina is sharing her experiences of working while affected by cancer and what employers need to do better.
“How am I going to get through this work shift today?”
Elvina’s video, titled “You Look Well,” is about her experiences at work following her cancer diagnosis. Elvina talks about her physical side effects and how these affect her going to work. Elvina also talks about her worries about going off sick and dealing with sickness policies and sickness reviews. Elvina also shares the story of a manager who did listen and understood how she felt, and how this made a big difference.
Watch Elvina’s video below. Elvina’s video has subtitles/closed captions.
Are you worried about managing your job alongside a cancer diagnosis or caring responsibilities? Macmillan have a Work support team who can help you to navigate your job and cancer. They can provide lots of help and support, and look at your options with you. You can reach our Work support team and our other Support Line specialists 7 days a week, 8am-8pm on freephone 0808 808 00 00, live webchat or email. You can also ask them a question here on the Online Community in our “Ask a work support adviser” section.
“Would it be so terrible to treat those employees affected by cancer as an individual and with dignity and compassion?”
Elvina shared her story through the Digital Storytelling project at Macmillan. Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling workshops support people affected by cancer to tell their stories in their own words. Many Digital Storytellers have found support and comfort from attending these workshops and sharing their story as a video. If you’d like to get involved, you can find out more about it on Macmillan’s webpage about the Digital Storytelling project.
Here in the Online Community, this is a safe place to share your story and find support. Talking about your experiences may help you to feel less alone in what you’re going through. Why not let someone in one of the Online Community groups know that you understand how they feel, or reach out to talk about how you’ve been doing?
We would like to thank Elvina for sharing her story with us and the Online Community. How did Elvina’s story make you feel? Could you relate to her experiences? Let her know in the comments below.
Read more blogs from the Digital Storytelling Project:
Read more blogs about work and cancer:
