Hello Sara,

 First off, congratulations on your new job! It can be nerve wracking returning to work after an absence but the honest truth is you don’t know how you’ll feel until you start doing the work. With that said, I’d recommend thinking through in advance what types of accommodations you may require, so that if the time comes where you do think you may need to request them, you wont have to start that process from scratch. When it comes to disclosure, it’s a totally personal decision, some people feel strongly about sharing, and some do not. However, with that said, I often encourage people to really consider what they know to be true at the time. If the only reason that you would share this information with your employer is because you’re worried about potential challenges, I would suggest waiting to see what they actually end up being. The reason for this is, you can never take back the information you’ve shared, once it’s out there, it’s out there. I encourage people not to operate on the 'what if’s', but rather what the realities are and what you know. Unfortunately, we are often unable to know what those will be until the time comes. Since you do have some time before you start, maybe start practicing now. Obviously you can’t recreate seeing patients, but perhaps set a day where you do a bunch of housework around your home, or run errands that keep you on your feet for a significant amount of time – note when you start to get tired, when you feel you need a break, etc. Try this a few times and see if after a few days you notice the patterns. Simple preparation like this can lend a lot of insight for when you actually start.

As for your appointments, that is something you can remain vague about. Early on, you can alert them that you have a number of standing appointments that you must keep, and you can ask what sort of flexibility there may be for taking time out of the day for those and/or making up the hours. As you mentioned, the fact that they are in the same building is great in terms of timing and convenience. However, that’s another area where you will want to consider the possibility that someone you work with may see you in a waiting room, or leaving your doctor’s office. This can be a factor you think about when deciding on what and how much you may want to disclose.

 CAC offers a few resources on disclosure that you may find helpful:

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


• The recording of our webinar on Disclosure, Privacy & Online Brand
  


• The Sharing the News section of our website discusses the many considerations around disclosure including whom/when/how/what to tell

 I hope the above helps! If you are still looking for more information or have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly at cancerandcareers@cew.org and we can set up a time to chat.

 Sending you good luck with the new position!

Warmly,
Nicole Jarvis, LMSW

Assistant Director of Programs

Cancer and Careers

Thank you for your comments. I am hiding my diagnosis and plan to for as long as I can. I just got laid off and am in the middle of a job search and immunotherapy at the same time (tolerating it well so far). I've experienced BAD discrimination before (was let go after revealing initial diagnosis and need for surgery two years ago) and now just hide it hide it hide it. I will be starting a new job soon, I hope... but need to time if after my next surgery in one month. I'm not eligible for any protection like FMLA (have to be with a company for one year correct?). So I hope to remain vague with appointments, good thing I work remote. I feel great and don't have any "outward" signs (mine is melanoma). All I can say is once you say the word "cancer" everyone has their own preconceptions of what that means - often from a previous family member years ago. Or they immediately think the worst. Cancer treatment today is remarkable with fewer side effects (at least for some diagnoses). I will get my infusions on a Friday so that if I have fatigue, I'll bounce back by Monday (most do). I set up appointments for early morning or late afternoon. All I know is that having to play this hiding game is horrible but I am single and need to work. I don't complain I just find a way to move forward. Nice to find this organization, wish I found it sooner. To anyone that reads this, seriously think about telling people at work- my experience is that it is negative. In fact, I am so scared to reveal my diagnosis and who I am that I won't post anything here unless I can do so anonymously. I will do what I need to do and make my way through this journey with remission at the end! Anyone else here going through a similar situation, I feel you! You are not alone.

Hi Anonymous!

Thank you for sharing your experience - I'm so sorry to hear you had a negative experience following your decisions around disclosure. You're completely right, it can vary! While some hold some unconcious (and conscious) bias around cancer, one can never be totally sure how one will respond to the news.

We always tell those with a diagnosis that disclosure is a completely personal decision, one that is dependent on a number of factors that include, but are not limited to, your specific work circumstance, relatiponships at work, your personality, and so much more.  The truth of the matter is, it really is different for everyone, which is why we encourage everyone to really apply our informatioon and guidance in a way that will work best for them. Of course no one can guarantee a good outcome, but being most informed and prepared around decision-making is of course so important.

Congratulations on your new job! Your suggestions around scheduling and working from home are really helpful and can also put you in a position of having more control over your situation, without having to disclose much, or anything. You are correct that typically you need to have worked at a company for 12 consecutive months in order to qualify for FMLA, but it's always worth going through the employee handbook to see what alternative options there may be. It's not uncommon for some accommodations to be needed for pre-existing commitments when starting a new job for a number of reasons, since you can't always plan for when exactly you'll be starting work. Timing is always funny like that, so most companies do take into account the need to be a little flexible at the beginning.

We're always happy to discuss any concerns or approaches ffurther if you'd like to reach out to cancerandcareers@cew.org to discuss further or set up a time for a phone call.

Best,

Nicole Jarvis, LMSW

Assistant Director of Programs

I do not have a job yet, I am interviewing. I like the tools you have here, the stories and agree- it’s a personal choice. Sharing my experience- which was quite negative and I don’t have faith it would be positive with a new employer. Particularly in the economy. Perhaps unless someone works in healthcare or for a boss who has experienced this themselves. Because I won’t have much protection I will “cross roads” when I get to them. Which is what was discussed previously in earlier comments. Thank you for the response.