Hello Kyle,

Thanks for reaching out to Cancer and Careers. Congratulations on making it through what sounds like quite the lengthy interview process! When it comes to disclosure, especially before starting a job, it’s a good idea to share only necessary details and information. In your case, it sounds like there are some unknowns at the moment, so it’s best not to delve into what if’s if they in fact turn out to change. Disclosure is always a personal decision and there is no right or wrong answer, rather, its about assessing your situation, what you know, and what you believe the benefit is to sharing the information.

I can imagine that you may be feeling anxious and uncertain about the biopsy, which is totally understandable. But the fact is, you don’t know what’s going to happen, so it’s best to not share information, or even make a decision around what to share, until you have a clearer picture. If you are concerned about needing time off, or the biopsy is set to occur right when you are supposed to start work, perhaps a later start date could be part of your negotiations. This could give you the time for the biopsy and any additional planning that may follow. Since the interview process itself has taken nearly three months, I would imagine they’re not rushing anything so a later start date could be a totally reasonable request.

Here are a few resources on disclosure than may help put sharing the information into perspective and assist you in making a decision around your specific circumstance:

• Our article on Managing Disclosure When Looking for a Job
  


• The recordings of our Disclosure, Privacy & Online Brand and Communicating Effectively webinars


• Our blog post on Disclosure in the Workplace: When is it Appropriate?
  


• Though you may not need them, it’s always a good idea to understand the laws that can provide protection in the workplace – for a general overview, take a look at our article on Your Legal Rights in the Workplace: Cancer and the ADA, FMLA, Etc.
  

 If you’re still feeling unsure and would like to speak further, please feel free to reach out to cancerandcareers@cew.org to schedule a time to speak with one of our staff. Best of luck with everything and I do hope the new job comes to fruition and you’re able to get the support you are looking for.

Warm regards,

Nicole

Nicole Jarvis, LMSW (she, her, hers)

Assistant Director of Programs

Cancer and Careers

Thanks for this