Getting hit with a cancer diagnosis can turn your entire world upside down in an instant. Suddenly, many things that were incredibly important might seem trivial, and your priorities can drastically shift. Or, you might want to continue living with the same daily routine for as long as possible, to try to maintain a semblance of normalcy. 

That’s why one woman decided to keep her job while undergoing cancer treatment. But when her boss made it clear that the company wasn’t actually as supportive as they led her to believe, she realized that there wasn’t any reason to stick around. Below, you’ll find the full story that was posted on Reddit, as well as a conversation with the team at Macmillan Cancer Support.

This woman decided to keep her job while undergoing cancer treatment

Image credits: LightFieldStudios / envatoelements (not the actual photo)

But when she was called out for not meeting KPIs, she realized just how little the company cared about her

Image credits: drazenphoto / envatoelements (not the actual photo)

Later, the woman provided additional details about the situation to answer some of the questions readers had

Image credits: Gigidelgado / envatoelements (not the actual photo)

Image credits: Anonymous

Over 2 million people in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer this year

Image credits: LightFieldStudios / envatoelements (not the actual photo)

Being informed that you have cancer is a nightmare that absolutely nobody wants to experience. It’s jarring, terrifying and always means that there is a long, painful journey ahead. 

Aside from the obvious toll it takes on physical health, cancer impacts your relationships, your mental health, your career, your family, your outlook on life and more. But unfortunately, it’s something that many of us will undergo at some point.

According to the National Cancer Institute, about 2,001,140 individuals will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States this year. And the most common types of cancer are breast, prostate, lung and bronchus, colon and rectum, melanoma of the skin, bladder, kidney and renal pelvis cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, endometrial, pancreatic, leukemia, thyroid, and liver cancer.

Thankfully, however, a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence for the majority of people. In January 2022, there were over 18.1 million cancer survivors in the United States, and the National Cancer Institute expects that number to rise to 22.5 million during the next decade. 

“Cancer can impact a person’s life in a variety of ways, and we know that too many people living with cancer face a huge amount of stress, worrying about how their diagnosis could impact their work”

Image credits: Pressmaster / envatoelements (not the actual photo)

When it comes to balancing a career and cancer treatment, there are many factors that patients have to take into consideration. To gain more insight into this topic, we reached out to the team at Macmillan Cancer Support in the UK, who was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda.

“If you have cancer, the law in the UK considers this as a disability. This means you cannot be treated less favorably than other people (who do not have cancer) because you have cancer, or for reasons connected to the cancer. That would be discrimination,” the experts noted.

“Cancer can impact a person’s life in a variety of ways, and we know that too many people living with cancer face a huge amount of stress, worrying about how their diagnosis could impact their work,” Ghazala Anjam, Work Support Team Leader at Macmillan Cancer Support, shared.

“Employers have a key role to play in ensuring that people living with cancer get the essential support they need at work, at a time when they need it most. Employers should take time to understand the support that the employee needs, familiarize themselves with the legislation surrounding people working with cancer and introduce any reasonable adjustments needed. It’s crucial that they offer any support the person needs to stay in or return to work if that is their choice,” Anjam continued.

“We would encourage employers to demonstrate that talking about cancer is a safe thing to do and encourage employees to disclose their cancer diagnosis, so the best support for them can be put in place”

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“Macmillan at Work offers training and resources to employers to enable them to provide better workplace support for employees living with or affected by cancer. We would encourage employers within organizations to demonstrate that talking about cancer is a safe thing to do and encourage employees to disclose their cancer diagnosis so the best support for them can be put in place. Our Work Support Team can also advise people with cancer and their carers on their rights at work, helping them navigate any work queries they have.”

The experts also provided some tips for discussing your diagnosis at work with your boss. It’s important to be informed, know your rights, be prepared and be organized. Let your employer know how much you’re comfortable disclosing about your illness, and agree on a communication plan with your boss.

“This is important if you have to take time off for treatment, but also if you remain at work as it can help to keep your manager updated as your needs may change,” the Macmillan team noted. “When you are ready to return to work, discuss and agree a return-to-work plan.”

“Remember the best option for you will depend very much on your individual work, health and financial circumstances,” they added. “Don’t rush into any decisions, take your time and speak to as many people as you can, including your health professionals and employer about your options.”

We would love to hear your thoughts on this story in the comments below, pandas. Then, if you’re interested in reading another Bored Panda piece discussing workplace revenge, look no further than right here!

Readers applauded the woman for her revenge and for beating cancer, and she joined in on the conversation

Readers continued weighing in on the situation, and some even shared similar stories of their own

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