Hi all,

I have stage 4 breast cancer that has spread to my lungs and spine.  The treatment is going well and I'm currently being classed as having no active cancer but I'm still taking chemotherapy tablets and hormone tablets on a daily basis.

Because my immune system is low I feel I tend to pick up illnesses and infections far easier.  When I return to work after being off poorly we have a return to work where we sit and discuss if it's cancer related or not.  If it isn't and I'm off for more than 4 days or have 2 periods of absence in a 6 month period we reach a trigger point where our sickness is monitored.  I obviously understand an employer having to have this in place but here's comes my gripe.  Working out if it's cancer related?  Neither myself or employer are doctors so technically how can we be sure?  For example I've just been off for 2 days with a sickness bug.  When I mentioned about my low immune system I was met with the reply 'Everyone gets colds/sickness bugs etc'. I totally get that but feel as though my low immune system is never taken into consideration.  Yes everyone gets these illnesses and I may have still got them even if I didn't have a low immune system.  I went on to mention that it potentially effects me more or I may be far poorly than others due to my meds/low immune system etc and I feel it just falls on deaf ears.  Obviously if I was something like a migraine I get that it isn't cancer related.  The last time I was poorly was in Oct last year with COVID and my calcium levels were super high so I was hospitalised.  This most recent illness is therefore going to mean that I reach a trigger point.  Am I therefore being treated unfairly?