Hi Joe,

Thanks for submitting your question and I’m sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis. I’m going to pass this along to one of our career coaches but in the meantime just wanted to touch on a few of the things that you mentioned.

The good news is, it sounds like you’ve really set yourself up to at least have some options here. Since you’re financially ready to retire now, that’s certainly a benefit in terms of keeping your options open and/or pivoting if needed. However, it might be a good idea to consider health insurance in this instance – what would be your plan for insurance if you were to retire now? There are a lot of reasons why people decide to continue working during treatment, often insurance coverage plays a part. So I just encourage you to keep that in mind as you do weigh your options.

I’ll let the career coach speak specifically to your concerns around image at work if you were to request a less senior role, but I think there are many ways to frame such a move (change in perspective, wanting to take on less responsibility, focus on other aspects of your life etc.) without having to say exactly why  you’re doing it. Disclosure can be such a major aspect of navigating work and cancer, so it’s important to think through the angles and make informed decisions around what you wish to do. We have an entire section of our website, Sharing the News, that is devoted to disclosure that may be helpful for you to read through to get a better sense of the considerations. In order to make other informed decisions, I’d encourage you to take a look at our articles on Getting Organized and Creating an Action Plan. This is a time where there are a lot of factors to consider and it can often feel a bit overwhelming. Having the ability to break things down but also see the bigger picture can be really helpful in determining next steps.

Please feel free to reach out with any additional questions or if you’d like an clarification on the above. You can email us at cancerandcareers@cew.org to set up a time to chat.

Warmly,

Nicole Jarvis, LMSW

Assistant Director of Programs

Cancer and Careers

Thank you for sharing with us, and while I imagine you are going through a difficult time with your cancer diagnosis, I'm glad to hear that your prognosis is good. It's understandable that you want to make changes to your work/life balance, and it sounds like you're in a good financial position to do so.

It's not uncommon for people to reassess their priorities and make changes to their careers after going through a major life event like cancer. Taking time off or reducing your workload can be beneficial for your physical and mental health, and it can also give you the opportunity to explore new career options that may be more fulfilling or align better with your goals and values.

In terms of moving up your retirement timeline, it's important to consider whether you're ready for retirement and whether it's the right decision for you. It sounds like you have been thinking through this, as you mention you are financially capable to do so now.  Retiring early can be a great opportunity to travel, spend time with loved ones, and pursue hobbies and interests, but it can also be a major life change that comes with its own challenges. You may need to adjust to a new routine, deal with a potential loss of social connections and purpose. Some people always find ways to stay busy, while some do find retirement quite boring, and eventually look for opportunities to consult for example, if your industry provides for that opportunity. Consulting can be a flexible option, allowing you to work when you want to.

As for your other option of requesting a role change within your current organization, that could also be a good way to improve your work/life balance and explore new opportunities. It's true that there may be some stigma attached to switching from a managerial role to an individual contributor, but ask yourself who are you really worried about thinking this way? More importantly, remember that your cancer diagnosis and treatment are likely to have had a significant impact on your energy levels and priorities. Changing roles could be a way to continue working in a way that's more manageable and fulfilling for you.

Ultimately, the decision to retire early or switch roles within your organization is a personal one, and it will depend on your unique circumstances and goals. Kudos to you for seeking advice here with Cancer & Careers.  Once you have made some disclosure decisions at working around your diagnosis (of which Cancer and Careers has helpful resources for making those decisions that Nicole shared above), you may then consider how you might communicate with your employer and colleagues about your situation and needs, while also being honest with yourself about what will be best for your health and well-being.