Victoria Puzo, LCSW

COMPLETING CANCER TREATMENT GOES by many labels: “post-treatment,” “remission,” “cancer free,” “survivorship,” “no evidence of disease.” But no matter what a person chooses to call it, finishing treatment is a huge milestone. Friends and family may want to celebrate, and many will assume your life can go back to normal. However, most people in this position know that many challenges lie ahead — such as returning to work. This may mean going back to a job after medical leave or finding new employment. Once you are medically cleared to return to work, you need to consider several factors.

While navigating this transition, keep in mind that certain laws protect a person in the workplace during and after cancer treatment. The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, including those with a history of cancer or other illness.

People protected by the ADA are entitled to reasonable accommodations from their employer, such as a flexible schedule to accommodate follow-up appointments, a decrease in physical labor and more frequent breaks. More information about the ADA can be found on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s website. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) enables an individual (or a family member) coping with a serious illness to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave within one calendar year. Leave can be taken in blocks of time, which is helpful to keep in mind for follow-up appointments after treatment is complete. To learn more, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s website and search for “FMLA.”

Legally, you are not required to disclose information about your history to current or potential employers, but a certain amount of disclosure is necessary for coverage. In most settings, a medical professional will need to fill out forms that ask for details such as specific diagnosis and treatment.

Before embarking on a job hunt, take some time to think about goals, skills and the need for additional training or education. If changing fields, consider talking with someone who already works in that area. If possible, attend networking events and forge professional connections. During the interview process, employers are not allowed to ask about medical history. If questioned about a gap in employment, consider saying something like “I was dealing with health issues, but they’ve been resolved, and I am ready to get back to work.” People are not required to disclose a cancer diagnosis to prospective employers.

Individuals preparing to return to a previous job should first consider the work environment and culture, and then create a plan for first interactions. Those who choose to not share details about their illness might say, “I’m doing just fine.” No one should ever feel pressured to talk about their cancer experience, and supervisors are expected to maintain confidentiality.

Many colleagues will be supportive, but others might be standoffish or make insensitive comments. There is no way to control what others say, but certain strategies can deflect unappreciated remarks and maybe prevent further ones. For instance, Cancer and Careers suggests employing “the swivel”: Acknowledge the question or comment and then redirect the conversation to a more comfortable topic.

After cancer, many people want to get back to their so-called normal life and routine, but the mind and body may need time to readjust. If possible, ease into work with a position that permits fewer hours, a part-time schedule, working from home or frequent breaks. Reevaulate the workspace to ensure it accommodates any limitations such as the need for a different chair, closer proximity to a bathroom or keeping items within arm’s reach to conserve energy.

Stress is inevitable, but try to take it easy during the transition. Post a note to remind yourself to take a few deep breaths every hour, listen to soothing music and head outdoors for fresh air. If possible, say no to certain projects or delegate tasks to others.

Be sure to take advantage of great resources like Cancer and Careers, which offers free résumé assistance, career coaching, workshops and other information about working during and after cancer. CancerCare provides free support services such as counseling, support groups and educational information. Consider joining a post-treatment online support group to engage with others who are dealing with the many challenges that come after cancer treatment.

Returning to work will have its challenges, but having the right mindset and a plan in place will smooth the transition. Keep the lines of communication open with your doctor to ensure your medical needs are being met, and don’t be afraid to ask for reasonable accommodations at work. Most important, don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ve been through a lot — it’s OK to take your time.

Victoria Puzo, a licensed clinical social worker, is the online support group program coordinator at CancerCare. She provides supportive counseling and resources to people coping with cancer and those who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

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Know your rights and make a plan to help ensure a smooth transition back into the workforce. 

Returning to Work After Treatment

Completing cancer treatment can be called many things: post-treatment, remission, cancer free, survivorship, no evidence of disease. However you choose to label this stage of your cancer experience, completing treatment is a huge milestone. Friends and family may want to celebrate and many will assume your life can go back to normal. But, most people who have been in this position know that there are challenges ahead.

One of the many challenges of the post-treatment phase is returning to work. This might mean returning to your place of employment after medical leave or finding new employment. Once you are medically cleared to return to work, here are several things to consider before returning to the workplace.

As you navigate this transition, keep in mind that there are laws that protect a person in the workplace during and after cancer treatment. The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, including those with a history of cancer or other illness. People protected by the ADA are entitled to reasonable accommodations from their employer, such as a flexible schedule to accommodate follow-up appointments, a decrease in physical labor, or more frequent breaks. More information about the ADA can be found on the 

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) website

, which enables people coping with a serious illness, or one of their family members, to take unpaid leave for up to 12 weeks within one calendar year. Leave does not have to be taken all at once and can be taken in blocks of time. This is another helpful thing to keep in mind when there is a need to take time off for follow-up appointments after treatment is complete. To learn more, visit the 

Legally, you are not required to disclose information about your history to current or potential employers. However, in order to be covered by these laws, a certain amount of disclosure is necessary. You are not required to share your specific diagnosis, treatment, etc. But, a medical professional will need to fill out forms in most settings, which may include some of these details.

Once treatment is over, you may be seeking new employment. Before you start your job hunt, take some time to think about your goals, skills and whether or not you’ll need additional training or education to obtain the job you are seeking. If you are changing fields, consider talking to someone within that field before you make a decision. If possible, attend networking events and talk to your professional connections about your goals. 

During the interview process, employers are not allowed to ask you about your medical history. If you’re concerned about explaining an employment gap, you can say something like, “I was dealing with health issues, but they’ve been resolved and I am ready to get back to work.” You are not required to disclose your cancer diagnosis to prospective employers.

If you’re returning to a previous job, take a few moments to consider your work environment and culture and come up with a plan for first interactions. If you would rather not share details about your cancer experience, you can say something like, “I’m doing just fine,” and leave it at that. You should not feel pressured to talk about your cancer experience if you don’t want to, and supervisors are expected to maintain confidentiality. 

Many people will be supportive when you return to work. However, there may be others who will doubt you or make insensitive comments. While you can’t control what others might say, you can employ strategies to avoid further insensitive remarks. You can politely respond using what 

 refers to as “the swivel.” This tactic allows you to acknowledge the question or comment and then redirect the conversation to something you are more comfortable talking about. 

As much as you might want to get back into your “normal” life and routine, your mind and body may need time to readjust. Try to ease back into work as much as you can. If possible, start with a position that permits fewer hours, a part-time schedule, working from home or frequent breaks. You may need to re-evaluate your workspace to ensure it accommodates any limitations such as needing a different chair, having a desk closer to the bathroom or keeping necessary items within arm’s reach to conserve your energy.

When it comes to stress and/or anxiety in the workplace, try to be easy on yourself in the beginning. You’re going to have some stress, but you can do this. Leave yourself a note to remind yourself to take a few deep breaths every hour. Take breaks, get outside for some fresh air or listen to music for a few minutes. If you can, say no to certain projects or delegate tasks to others. Give yourself permission to ease back into things.

Be sure to take advantage of great resources like 

, which offers free résumé assistance, career coaching, workshops and other information about working during and after cancer. 

 offers free support services such as counseling, support groups and educational information. Consider joining a 

 to talk to others who are dealing with the many challenges that come after cancer treatment.

Returning to work after cancer treatment will have its challenges, but with the right mindset and a plan in place, you can make it a smoother transition. Keep the lines of communication open with your doctor to ensure your medical needs are being met and don’t be afraid to ask for reasonable accommodations at work. Most importantly, don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ve been through a lot and it’s okay to take your time.

Victoria Puzo, LCSW, is the Online Support Group Program Coordinator at CancerCare. As an oncology social worker, Victoria provides supportive counseling and resources to people coping with cancer and people who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

For many cancer survivors, returning to work can be both exciting and anxiety-inducing. Knowing your rights and making a plan can help ensure a smooth transition.

Victoria Puzo, LCSW

Returning to Work After Treatment

Returning to Work After Cancer Treatment

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