Work

[ccampbell]

Up unti 3 weeks ago I was teaching in a school on a one year contract, then after a double vision probelm I was diagnosed with nsclc. I have been put on crizotinib for a year. I am single two daughters and worried about ever getting back to work again. Who will accept me with this medical condition ?How hard is it to get work with cancer? Are there any other teachers out there going through the same worries?.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear ccampbell

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis and how difficult this must be being a Mum and your concern for work. I have placed a link below from Macmillan nurses on guidelines for work and cancer and your rights, along with a few other links.

This link will guide you to any benefits you may be entitled to:

turn2us.org.uk/ and

about-cancer.cancerresearch...

citizensadvice.org.uk/about...

This link is general information on work rights

macmillan.org.uk/informatio...

This link is a guide on work and cancer:

macmillan.org.uk/_images/Fi...

This link is looking for work

macmillan.org.uk/informatio...

This article may be on interest , reflecting on what the employer can do to assist those who have had cancer:

theguardian.com/society/201...

This is another good website guiding and assisting those who want to go back to work

workingwithcancer.co.uk/

Although this link is a forum from breast cancer, it is has had lots of replies from teachers going back to work.

forum.breastcancercare.org....

If you wish to discuss anything you can call us on our free nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200

Good luck with everything

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[JanetteR57]

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I'm not a teacher but do appreciate your worries. When I was diagnosed in Jan 2011, I felt the same as I'm self employed so although cancer is a protected status under disability discrimination employment law in the UK and employers have to make reasonable adjustments, continually bidding for work when many people have little or no understanding of the condition makes it easier for me not to mention it. At the time I tried to find information and there was very little - these days it's a different matter. I returned to work within 4 months of major surgery and have worked ever since. I regularly travel for work all over UK and Europe. I know other patients who have negotiated with their employer for reduced hours to help balance their condition with their family responsibilities and recently met other patients who have returned to engineering jobs. It can be very scary but suggest you contact Macmillan who do a lot of work around living with and beyond cancer and have many resources available including a telephone helpline - as does Roy Castle. Good luck. There is life after diagnosis - although adjusting to accepting that some days you'll feel better than others can take a while longer for our minds to catch up - as a young man I met a few years ago said (Stephen Sutton), 'I may have cancer, but cancer does not have me'. It's really important to keep up life and your support networks and contacts whilst you can - including family and work if you're able. Wishing you well.