Talking about cancer at work
Talking to work colleagues
Many employers and work colleagues are supportive of people with cancer. Some people may worry their employer will not support them, will sack (dismiss) them or will find an excuse to make them redundant.
This should not happen. If you have cancer, the law considers this a disability. This means you cannot be treated differently because you have cancer. That would be discrimination.
You may want to talk to:
- your line manager
- your human resources (HR) manager
- an occupational health adviser
- a trade union representative.
You should ask for the conversation to be in a private place and not be rushed. If you feel nervous, you could take someone with you.
If your employer or manager knows about your illness, you may be able to talk together about reasonable adjustments. These are changes that can help you keep working or return to work. If you do not tell your employer about your illness, it could cause problems later if you cannot do your job properly.
We have more information about the laws that protect you at work. For money advice, you can also speak to a Macmillan money adviser by calling 0808 808 00 00.
Asking your employer questions
You could ask your manager or employer the following questions:
- Where can I find company or organisation policies about cancer?
- Can we talk about what to tell others at work about the cancer and how it might affect how I work?
- Can my job be adjusted if I find certain tasks difficult?
We have more information about questions to ask about work and cancer, talking to your employer and coping at work during treatment.
Talking to other people at work
Talking to people at work can help them support you. You may decide to tell people you feel closest to first.
Decide who to tell
Telling the people you work with that you have cancer can be difficult. You may worry about how to tell them or their reactions.
You may decide to tell people you feel closest to first. They may be able to help you plan how to tell others.
It is a good idea to contact your manager or human resources (HR or personnel) department early on. We have more information about work and cancer.
If you are self-employed, you might not need to tell any business contacts about the cancer. However, they may need to know if your business agreements will be affected.
The benefits of talking to colleagues
Telling people at work can have the following benefits:
- It gives them the chance to support you.
- You can let them know if you need help.
- They may suggest helpful ways for you to cope with your work.
- It may make you feel closer to the people you work with.
- Other people with experience of cancer could support you.
If you think it would be helpful, you could give people some details about your treatment and its side effects. For example, you could let them know if:
- tiredness is a problem
- your concentration is affected
- you are at risk of infection.
Sometimes people may avoid you. This is usually because they do not know what to say or are worried about saying the wrong thing. Showing them you can talk openly about your illness may help.
If you do not want to tell people at work
Some people prefer not to tell people at work that they have cancer. They may want to keep one area of their life as normal as possible. This can be a good way of coping for some people.
You may find the effects of cancer or cancer treatment, and the need to take time off, makes it difficult not to tell colleagues. People you work with may be aware that something is different, and may feel uncomfortable if they do not know what it is.
It may help to take some time to think about the benefits and disadvantages of telling people. You could talk to Macmillan's cancer support specialists on 0808 808 00 00.
Risk to people you work with
There are many misunderstandings about cancer. Some colleagues may worry that they could be harmed if you are having treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. However, there is no risk to them.
Sometimes, colleagues may worry that they can catch cancer. But cancer cannot be passed on like an infection. The people you work with have no risk of catching cancer.
If you are self-employed
If you are self-employed, you may feel there are fewer people you can talk to. This can feel isolating. You can call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 to talk:
- about how you are feeling
- to a work support adviser or financial guide, who can give guidance on the practical needs of you and your business.
Someone who works in the same area of work may also be able to give you advice on your business.
When you are self-employed, other people or businesses may rely on you to deliver goods or services. They may also rely on your payments. They might need to know you have cancer. You will have to balance your feelings about telling people with the needs of your business.
But some people and businesses may not need to know. It is your choice whether to tell them. It may be hard to tell people about the cancer. But it might mean they can give you practical and emotional support.
About our information
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer.
-
References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our Talking information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
Sharpe L, Curran L, Butow P, Thewes B. Fear of cancer recurrence and death anxiety Psycho‐Oncology. 2018;27:2559–2565. Available from Fear of cancer recurrence and death anxiety - Sharpe - 2018 - Psycho-Oncology - Wiley Online Library [accessed February 2023]
Zeng Q, Ling D, Chen W, et al. Family Caregivers’ Experiences of Caring for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer. A systematic Review and Metasynthesis of Qualitative Studies. Cancer Nursing 2023; 46,1, 14-28. Available from Family Caregivers’ Experiences of Caring for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer - PMC (nih.gov) [accessed February 2023]
Date reviewed
Our cancer information meets the PIF TICK quality mark.
This means it is easy to use, up-to-date and based on the latest evidence. Learn more about how we produce our information.
The language we use
We want everyone affected by cancer to feel our information is written for them.
We want our information to be as clear as possible. To do this, we try to:
- use plain English
- explain medical words
- use short sentences
- use illustrations to explain text
- structure the information clearly
- make sure important points are clear.
We use gender-inclusive language and talk to our readers as ‘you’ so that everyone feels included. Where clinically necessary we use the terms ‘men’ and ‘women’ or ‘male’ and ‘female’. For example, we do so when talking about parts of the body or mentioning statistics or research about who is affected.
You can read more about how we produce our information here.
How we can help