Issue

Telling Employers and Others

Background

For a cancer survivor, you constantly encounter moments in which you have to decide whether or not to tell people about your cancer experience. Although, you may be in remission for years, your life has been redirected since your cancer experience. Telling anyone whether it be an employer or friend can create certain consequences given the person's reaction. The decision to disclose your cancer experience is solely up to you.

Information

This is a difficult topic to talk about because there is no way you can foresee the person's reaction. The decision to tell your employer is solely up to you. Some possibilities with disclosing your medical history are that you may not be able to receive certain medical insurance, you may experience discrimination or you may receive support for time off when having follow-up doctor visits or medical exams. If you have certain restrictions (i.e. specially designed chair, wheelchair accessibility, specially designed telephone) due to long term side effects of your cancer, you maybe able to receive your employer's assistance to make your work environment more comfortable.

You may also have visible scars from certain medical procedures which may cause questions and/or curiosity from coworkers or friends. Remember, what and how much you tell them is up to your own comfort level of discussing your cancer experience. Discuss with your family, counselor or doctors how much and how comfortable you are with disclosing to your friends or coworkers. Check into the American Disabilities Act of 1990 to determine your job benefits. Also, please see next section regarding knowing your job benefits.

Key Words

Cancer awareness, job issues, friends