Coping with fatigue at work

You may find that you can’t continue working due to fatigue, or that you have to reduce the amount of time that you spend at work. It can help to talk to your employer or personnel/human resources officer and let them know that you may need some time off due to the cancer or its treatment.

Don’t feel that you have to work if you are too tired, but if you do want to carry on working, you may be able to find ways of making your work less tiring for a while.

Anyone with cancer is protected by the Disability Discrimination Act|, which prevents employers victimising or discriminating against people with a disability. The Act also states that employers are expected to make reasonable adjustments to support employees in the workplace. You may want to make suggestions for adjustments that could help to support you. Things that your employer can do to help include:

• changing your hours so that you can travel to and from work at less busy times (outside the rush hour)
• asking colleagues to be supportive and to help with some of your work
• finding you a parking place near to your place of work
• letting you take a short break every now and again to lie down and rest
• allowing you to work from home, if possible
• finding you lighter work if your job involves physical exertion or heavy lifting.

If you are self-employed, it can help to talk to the Department for Work and Pensions (www.dwp.gov.uk|) about benefits that you may be entitled to claim.

We have further information on work and cancer| which has useful tips.