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Further general information on what cancer is, the common types of cancer and how it develops is available in the About cancer section of the site.
The information given below is related to work and cancer:
Depending on the type of cancer and its position in the body, you may have symptoms such as tiredness, weight loss, breathlessness or pain. These may affect your ability to work.
It can help you to plan if you find out as much as possible about your cancer, the likely effects of the cancer and whether it will make it difficult for you to work. Your doctors and the health care staff at your hospital are in the best position to give you this information. You can also find information about your type of cancer from:
These questions can help you to find out how the cancer may affect your ability to work.
You may find that doctors cannot answer your questions fully, or that their answers sound vague. Doctors know approximately how many people will benefit from particular treatments, so can often give some idea of whether the cancer is likely to be cured or whether it is very likely to come back after treatment. However, it is often impossible for them to say for certain whether the cancer can be cured or not in your particular case. Many people find this uncertainty hard to live with. It can also make it difficult to know whether, or how much, you will be able to work in the future.
If your workplace has an occupational health advisor, or a human resources (personnel) department it is helpful to contact them early on to talk about the effect that your cancer may have on your ability to work. They will keep all information confidential if you want them to.
When you are given information about your cancer, the treatments or how it may affect your work, it can be helpful to keep this together in a file or folder. You can also store medical reports, insurance claim forms, your work sickness policy and any relevant finance or benefit information in the same place. The NHS website has a secure place in which you can store all your electronic health information. It can be accessed at www.healthspace.nhs.uk
It is common to have a range of feelings and emotions when you have been diagnosed with cancer. The emotions may make it difficult for you to concentrate or work effectively. It is not unusual to need to take some time off to adjust to what is happening. Most employers will be sympathetic to this, and your doctor can sign you off from work for a short time, if necessary. At work you may find it helpful to talk to your employer or the occupational health or human resources staff.
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