Cancer Research UK main site

Advice for team member with Cancer Diagnosis

ben75
Offline

Hi all,

Looking for some advice. A valuable member of my team at work has recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer are are about to go begin treatment. Obviously they are in shock. From an employer perspective we are looking to support them as best we can in terms of keeping working, taking time off and hoping to support this valued team member (and friend!) as much as we can.

I was wondering if anyone here any practical recommendations or advice in terms of how we can support them, talk to them, reassure them. They may want to keep working or may not, they may want to talk about the diagnosis and treatment or may not. I would be interested in finding out how others have dealt with this situation. I appreciate everyone deals with this differently so all thoughts are welcome.

  • Offline

    Hi Ben 

    I was working at a small fabrication and welding firm, only five workers including the boss and his wife was the secretary. As soon as I found out i went straight to work and told them all. 

    Stage 4 uncurable (now classed as palliative care) and my boss said come in when i want to. Even having chemotherapy. if i felt OK  i was in it was something to concentrate on rather than cancer all the time and i was very grateful to do something normal.

    I was diagnosed Feb 2016. Had to retire to look after my disabled wife she needs 24 /7 care she has Alzheimers and parkinsons. I'm still going strong. And would love to get back to work..

    As long as he's OK let him come to work, let him choose the subject is easier than trying to find a subject what's OK, some people don't mind talking about how things are going. Mainly treat him like a worker and friend. 

    Hope I've given you some ideas. 

    Billy 

  • Offline

    Hi,

    As a cancer patient can I thank you, an employer, for caring about your employee & their health - I wish all employers were as caring!

    I am attaching a link to Macmillan's guide to employers. I think you will find it very informative & should cover everything you wish to know www.macmillan.org.uk/.../workingthroughcancer2010.pdf

    and www.macmillan.org.uk/.../employers

    My best wishes to you & your employee at this difficult time,

    Angie

  • Offline

    Hi there ...

    I'm so impressed with the caring you are showing as an employer ... so many times on here, people going through cancer and chemo / radiation treatments are treated badly by their employers ... it breaks my heart, knowing what we go though is one of the toughest times of our lives and can sap us of energy on and off for a long time ... apart from loosing hair, and feeling scared of the future ...

    So I applaud you and if other bosses were like you, we'd all get through this a lot easier .. it's people like you, that can make so much difference...

    My only advice to add to those who have answered , is ask him ... tell him, whatever he wants to do, it's o.k .. if he needs to go home .. it's o.k ... if he wants to chat ... that's o.k too ... you can't take it away, but boy can you make a difference... cancer is like a rollercoaster,  up one minute, down the next ... it's always changing ... if you can " go with the flow" then you've done everything possible ...

    Chrissie x

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.