Today we live in a world where many of us are just too busy to be ill. A cancer diagnosis can seem hugely inconvenient however cancer doesn’t care who you are even if you are super busy or if you have a team or a family to look after – it is here to turn things upside down and inside out.

Everyone is different of course and what works for some people may not work for others however most people continue to work, sometimes with reduced hours whilst receiving breast cancer treatment.

It helps to keep your mind off things, some say, “It allows you to feel normal – that you have part of your life back” however juggling work and treatment can be tricky, and whilst we would all like to think we have superpowers, we do not. 

Being able to balance work, treatment and family can be tricky, it's about finding the right balance for you and those around you, therefore, it’s helpful to discuss your plan of action with your treatment team and agree on a plan together.

Your employer is required to make reasonable adjustments and whilst we understand that you may not be one to make a fuss, these adjustments will help your return to work easier and allow you to manage work better in the longer term. 

You may need to speak to your Occupational Health (OH) or Human Resources (HR) department, but your manager should guide you on this.

A breast cancer diagnosis will influence your work life, whether you want it to or not, but this can vary from person to person. You may have an understanding manager, a flexible schedule, and or an encouraging team to support you through treatment.

Deciding if, when, or how to tell your employer and colleagues about your diagnosis is a personal choice of course. How or when you decide to approach it will depend on a variety of factors, such as what accommodations you may need to do your job, what kind of relationship you have with your manager and colleagues already, and how much information you wish to share.

More information on this can be found here.

But the key to balancing anything in life is to balance it evenly, don’t overload yourself, be realistic, be honest but most importantly be kind to yourself.