Hi Hybrè,

Thank you so much for reaching out to Cancer and Careers. I am sorry to hear you’re facing this challenge while having an opportunity you’ve dreamed of. Understandably you may feel overwhelmed by the situation so it’s a good idea to take a step back, breathe, and try to evaluate next steps.

First, it’s a good idea to gather as much information as you can in order to make an informed decision. This includes speaking with your healthcare team about things such as treatment schedule, what you can expect in terms of side effects and recovery time after surgery, and their recommendations in terms of what they anticipate you can and cannot do. It’s also a good idea to get a solid understanding of what will be expected of you at work. I know filming and production is very demanding and may have the tendency to shift and change, but getting at least a general sense of your schedule, hours, responsibilities, and deadlines will help you work out a plan.

In regard to disclosing your cancer diagnosis to your boss, this is a personal decision and a lot of the factors mentioned above will work into making that decision. While you are not legally obligated to share with your employer, there are instances in which it may be beneficial in terms of getting accommodations or flexibility where needed. Is there a human resources representative? Are you part of a union? Is there anyone on staff that could help you understand what leave and job protection policies are available to you in your position? When determining whether you want to disclose a diagnosis, you want to also think about what and how much to share. Coming up with a plan to present to your boss can be helpful too. For instance, are there any responsibilities that you can take care of in advance of your surgery so your absence won’t be felt too greatly? Is there anything you can do remotely? Are there coworkers that could potentially oversee some of your tasks while you are out? It may feel uncomfortable to ask, but it’s always worth exploring any potential solutions since, as you mentioned, you’re so passionate about your work and this project.

We have a number of resources that may be helpful as you’re figuring out what to do and how to make this decision:

Articles on Getting Started:

• Creating an Action Plan


• Managing Side Effects


• Work & Your Cancer Treatment

Articles on Legal and Financial Considerations:

• Your Legal Rights in the Workplace


• Requesting Reasonable Accommodations


• Top Three Legal Questions about Employment

Our recorded webinar on Disclosure, Privacy & Online Brand may be helpful to you as you navigate making some of these decisions around speaking with your boss. Our recent webinar on Balancing Work & Cancer also provides some helpful tips for managing treatment, surgeries, and your schedule.

Finally, our free publication, Living & Working with Cancer Workbook can be a really useful tool to help you stay organized and understand some of the practical and legal considerations as you manage this process.

Hopefully the above resources and questions will help you get started on figuring out a plan for yourself. If you’re still feeling stuck or have more questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at cancerandcareers@cew.org and we’ll find time to speak on the phone and discuss other options or resources.

Best of luck!

Warm regards,

Nicole Jarvis, LMSW

Assistant Director of Programs

Cancer and Careers