Whether you have just been diagnosed with cancer, are actively in treatment, or have recently completed it at some point, you likely will find/have already found yourself facing decisions about if and/or how to continue working. The work-and-cancer experiences of patients and survivors vary from person to person and, ultimately, the path you take will depend on your specific circumstances. Individual states have differing laws and protections; companies’ internal policies, employee benefits, etc. vary between workplaces; and everyone has distinct needs and obligations in their personal lives.

When making work-related decisions, it’s important to take a step back to consider the big picture and evaluate the many factors that might impact your plan. It’s not unusual to find that some of these elements conflict with one another which can make it difficult to identify a single, clear path forward. But acknowledging this conflict can remove some of the frustration you may feel and help you focus on making informed decisions that will enable you to create the best plan for you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to start there are two key questions you can ask yourself to get started:

1. “How important is work to me?”
2. “What information do I need in order to make a smart plan decision about returning to work?”

To help you answer the questions above, consider these additional questions:

• “Do I have to work or want to work? (Or is it a combination of both?) How does this factor into my decision-making?”
• “How do I feel or expect to feel physically? What (if any) concerns do I have?”
• “How closely is my work tied to my sense of self/sense of purpose?” (For example, is your job a big part of your identity? Do you just do it to earn a paycheck? Something in between?)
• “What are my short-term and long-term work goals?”
• “Have my career priorities changed? If so, how?”
• “How might my income/finances be impacted if I take time off or work a reduced schedule? How does this factor into my decision-making?”

Once you’ve done this initial thinking, you’re ready to start creating an action plan. You can learn more about that process here .

Updated 2024