Hi Deborah,

Thanks for reaching out to us and apologies for the delayed response. We recently redesigned our website and are having some issues with the alerts when new questions come in, so I'm very sorry about that. I have sent your question over to our coaches who will be in touch soon.

It sounds like you've read the article on the Top Three Legal Question About Employment: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/at-work/legal-and-financial/top-three-legal-questions. Since your question is technically legal and I'm not a legal expert, the first question in this article contains the information from cancer rights attorney's that you need to know about disclosing a diagnosis.

I hope that this is helpful!

Best,
Sarah, Manager of Programs, Cancer and Careers

Hi, Deborah;
I bet it is confusing to decide how to proceed with your job search while facing 6 months of chemo. My assumption is that you are pretty confident that you will get offers from those with whom you have interviewed. So, the question is how much do you disclose to those employers who want you to come to work for them?
I do encourage you to reach out to the attorney resources listed in the article you cited.
But, from a career coach's perspective I would also recommend talking with your treatment team before disclosing anything to a future employer. Chemotherapy and side effects can be managed, especially if your treatment provider knows about your desire to keep working. Often, individuals schedule their chemo either early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and late in a week, so that any immediate (a day or two) side effects can be addressed over the weekend. Fatigue can also be an issue, so ask your physician what you can expect in that regard, and figure out together how to best address it. Each person's reaction to treatment is unique, so be sure to build a really open communication channel with your doctors and their team. That way, should something come up that you did not expect, or that you are finding difficult to cope with while working, you can work with them to resolve it or strategize ways to work around it.
As you read in the article, disclosure is not required. However, if you need accommodations of any kind, including time off via the Family Medical Leave Act, you will have to let your employer know of your situation. So, if that is the case, design a communication strategy that allows you to control your message and to whom you disclose. Usually, I recommend limiting your discussion to your direct supervisor, and/or someone in Human Resources, if your employer is large enough to have this department.
I have a feeling that by the time you read this you may have already passed these hurdles, since it has been a few weeks since you first posted your questions. But, do let us know how your search and your treatment are progressing. We'll be pulling for you to land a great job, with the flexibility you desire.
My very best,
Kathy Flora, Career Coach