According to a 2012 study, nearly 83% of all employees telecommute for at least a part of their day. Also important to note is its changing face, which continuously evolves to support the diverse needs of telecommuters . We recommend telecommuting as an option for survivors, if possible, because of its inherent flexible nature. Just as how cancer treatment and recovery may require much flexibility, so does building and managing a work schedule during or after treatment. 

Co-working spaces, most recently highlighted in this New York Times article, initially came out of the West coast over the past decade in order to "accommodate the growing number of independent workers who wanted to escape the loneliness of working at home." There's a variety of programs from which to choose and members can travel around the globe to work out of participating spaces while enjoying wi-fi, coffee, a sense of community and even expanded opportunities to build your network. 

So whether you've decided to work through treatment or return to work after an absence, keeping communications open with employers allows for a potentially flexible work schedule, including an option to telecommute from a different space or even working from a home office as something arranged as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA. 

For more insight and practical advice on how to set up a successful flexible work plan, including an option to telecommute, check out this article and this helpful Career Coach post.