Hi all, Im hoping to get some advice from the group based on people's experience.
I was diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma in early April 2025. So far I have completed my first 4 rounds of FLOT chemo and had my total gastrectomy on 24 July 2025. I am due to start the last four rounds FLOT chemo in about 2 weeks.
Just before my diagnosis I applied and was successful in being offered a new job, which is a promotion from my current position. Both roles are within local government.
My potential new employer has been really good and understanding since I told them about my diagnosis and treatment plan. They agreed to keep the offer open and review at each stage of my treatment to see whether me taking the job was still possible for me and reasonable to expect the employer to make needed adjustments. Main adjustment being delayed start date and phased start.
I was so happy about the new job as my current workplace has been highly stressful with good staff leaving due to toxic working environment for years.
I am angry that my health is likely to mean that I wont be able to start the new job for a least another 3 months and even if I started I wont be able to perform to the level I know I used to be capable of.
Im starting to think that staying at my current job, whilst disappointing and upsetting, might be my best option as I have 9 years working for this employer with a good reputation as being highly competent and professional.
I am faced with the choice of accepting my new dream job at the risk of putting to much pressure on myself whilst completing then recovering from treatment or letting my dream job go to allow me to have a less stresful phased return back to my current workplace where colleagues have known me for 9 years before my cancer diagnosis.
My therapist and treatment team have all indicated that a new job is likely to be too much, which I'm unfortunately starting to believe is right.
I was hoping to reach out to this community to hear people's opinion on this that could be based on their own experience of returning to work after or during treatment for stomach cancer.
Any advice would be gratefully appreciated x
