Cancer Education Center
The Stephen and Barbara Slaggie Cancer Education Center is closed for walk-in assistance and group classes to avoid transmission risk during COVID-19. Staff are available by appointment only. To schedule, call 507-266-2991 or email canceredprog@mayo.edu.
See “MORE” to find recordings and classes typically offered within the Cancer Education Center in Rochester, MN. Topics include Reducing Fatigue, Moving Forward After Cancer, Nutrition and Cancer, Physical Activity, Stress Management and more!
For many people when they first hear a diagnosis of cancer for themselves or a loved one, work accommodations are not among the first thoughts that enter their mind. Usually our mind will race through a variety of concerns such as:
Once the reality of treatment starts, however, some of those work-related questions may start surfacing:
Thankfully, the American Disability Act provides significant support for employees with a serious diagnosis. Employers are required by law to provide reasonable work accommodations for any employee with a disability and, yes, impairments caused by cancer or its treatment would be included in that category.
For example, accommodations could include changing the number of hours worked or adapting your weekly schedule. Or another example may be making adjustments to the work space such as furniture changes, parking locations or office technology to make it more comfortable or possible to continue working during and after treatment.
There are a variety of reasons someone may continue working during their cancer treatment. Perhaps work brings a sense of normalcy to life during a time that feels very unsettled. Or work colleagues may provide a wonderful emotional support system to help deal with the challenges of treatment. Maybe it is a financially-based decision. All of these reasons, and others, are valid.
Talking with your healthcare provider is a good way to get a realistic idea of what challenges treatment may bring to your day-to-day activities. If you want specific information related to cancer and employment, www.cancerandcareers.org/ and also www.cancer.org/ provide a wealth of information. Perhaps you have already navigated the world of work and treatment. Were there conversations or factors that helped you decide how best to handle that situation? What worked for you? Please share your wisdom with the group.
Liked by Rgold02, Lisa Lucier, Becky, Volunteer Mentor
Heather, I hope you get great news. Let me know if you would like support. Sue
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, Lisa Lucier
@heather49, I thought I would check back in with you. I hope you received the lab results you were hoping for? What type of cancer were you treated for?
@sue1952
This was something I faced when it was time to start chemo. I am a therapist in an outpatient clinic in St. Paul. My treatments are weekly in Rochester. The only way I could make 40hours work was to request four tens and have treatment on Fridays. Thus gives me the weekend if there are side effects. Which there were aplenty until the dosage was adjusted a couple times. My employer has been accommodating.
The downside of this is that my life has reduced to being work and treatment. As I said in my initial post to the Kidney group, I am isolated with noone to talk with about any concerns or feelings. It is ironic that therapists encourage self care and talking to others but there is a culture for us to pull up your big girl pants and keep going. I have been looking for some kind of support group but they are few and far between.
Liked by Colleen Young, Connect Director, Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, Lisa Lucier, odette ... see all