Suspected Ovarian Cancer and work

Hi and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

Have you had the results of your tests yet? I'm keeping everything crossed that there's another explanation for your symptoms.

Having not had this type of cancer, if it does turn out to be cancer, I really have no idea if working will make any difference to your outcome. Have you been assigned a cancer nurse specialist or keyworker? If so, they should be able to guide you on working or not.

If you don't have any point of contact at the hospital to talk to, you could post your question in the ask a nurse section of the online community and one of the specialist nurses will reply within 3 working days. If this is something that you'd like to do, clicking on the link I've created will take you straight there.

x

Hi Lyna, just thought I’d reply and share something I discovered recently, which I wasn’t aware of. Apologies if you already know!

If you’re diagnosed with cancer, you are classed as having a disability and are entitled to reasonable adjustments at work under the equality act. This can be things like reduced workload, flexible working, rest breaks, working from home, different tasks, etc. I think there’s quite a comprehensive guide on the macmillan website and you can also speak to someone on the macmillan helpline for advice about work. 

I am due to start chemotherapy soon and had initially planned to try to work through it, with reduced workload, but decided in the end to take the time off sick, to have more time for self care during the treatment. That is of course a very personal decision and I am in a privileged position to be able to be off sick on full pay. 

whatever you decide, wishing you all the best. X