Returning to Work- Colleagues Reactions

Life after a breast cancer diagnosis Coping with fear and anxiety
1

Hi. We are all well aware that all, to varying degrees, have to ‘manage people’ when we have BC.

As I slide back into my previous life, as a professional woman, it strikes me a preemptive email might save me a lot of stress. (I work for a large company).

So for ladies who have this ‘particular T Shirt’, what do you think about my saying:

" I fully understand it can be difficult to know what to say, or not say, to a colleague who has returned to work after breast cancer.

By all means say nothing, but please  approach that with sensitivity; 

Alternatively, if it helps to ask questions, I am not against talking about my experience, if I think it would be a useful and positive conversation".

Crikey girls, I thought the diagnosis etc was tough, but this is a heck of a challenge too!

Any/ all advice, gladly taken.

Wonky x

 

2

Hi Wonky

 

Great to hear you’re on the way back to Professional Woman. I wish you all the good luck and good will you need - but small steps. Don’t dive in head first.

 

Re the email, if it’s a large company, presumably you don’t know everyone well. Could you email just those who you know you’re working with and ask them to spread the word about your fragility as appropriate? It may be that not everyone knows your diagnosis. It may be, in a large company, there are others who’ve had or got cancer themselves. 

 

Best of luck with the return

x