Research shows that breast cancer has “a negative impact on the workforce participation of Australian women” and “women with breast cancer need support to return to work”. [1] This is also my lived experience.
Support for survivors navigating their engagement with work is essential.
The cohort of working-aged women with breast cancer is on the rise with the incidence increasing, retirement age is rising, survival rates improving, and women are being diagnosed earlier. They need to work; they want to work.
Yet, the work-cancer journey for people with breast cancer (99% being women) is often difficult as they balance the ‘taboo’ conversation of medically induced menopause, instinctually disguise cognitive inabilities and fatigue, and silently manage the “detrimental effect of lymphedema on women’s work and career”. [2]
My lived experience of navigating the work-cancer journey left me grieving for the amazing job I lost, lacking confidence, disheartened and isolated. I lost control of my life and work, and felt burdensome to those around me.
To improve the wellbeing of women living and working with cancer, organisations need to be better educated about cancer and cancer treatments. It is most important employers understand the side effects of treatment and the potential long-term impact a cancer diagnosis has on their employee, such as fear of recurrence, nerve and muscle problems, insomnia, depression, and anxiety.
The presentation will describe how leaders, managers and colleagues can improve workplace support for cancer survivors. Further, it will explore providing individual and group support to assist and empower survivors to achieve their desired work and career outcomes.
[1] Workforce participation of Australian women with breast cancer, Lewis, et al. Psycho-Oncology. 2020; 29:1156-1164 DOI 10.1002/PON.5392
[2] Worse and worse off: the impact of lymphedema on work and career after breast cancer, Boyages et al. SpringerPlus (2016) 5:657 DOI 10.1186/s40064-016-2300-8