Hi all. Looking for a bit of advice really. I’m 39 (40 in a minute!) and I work full time in a HR Manager capacity but I work I a prison and also have to deal with alot of operational scheduling and training. Basically it’s a big job and it’s very stressful at times and the job is never done. My senior management team rely on me for a lot of stuff all the time and pretty much throughout the whole of my treatment I have been working from home but now I’m at the point where I need to go back into the office around September time after radiotherapy. For the last 3.5 years I have been doing this job I have been sharing the load with another operational manager and I have been told when I come back this person will be pulled out and I will have to pick up all the additional stuff they do as well as my own role. This feels me with a lot of anxiety, my head doesn’t feel as sharp as it was prior to my diagnosis and I’m definitely not as patient as I was before. I’m still going to be taking Herceptin till next year and I start my hormone therapy (Tamoxifen) to start and they want me to go through early menopause so there is still alot of unknown coming. I’m thinking about asking for a medical regrade and stepping down from management for now and dropping down a paygrade as there is a potential space I may be able to slot in to in another department. These vacancies don’t come often. Money wise I can afford to do it if I do it soon. I’m thinking about talking to the Governor over this next week to see what he says but I’m not sure if I’m being a bit a bit dramatic but I do worry about the unknown and the stress of the job, knowing that I will be coming back into 3 months of extreme business and 1 less experienced staff member. Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
Hi Chellbelle,
That does sound like alot to think about.
Are you aware that having cancer classes it as a disability. So your work have to make adjustments for you.
I’m guessing they might have already with the extra manager?
Could they keep the role split for you and job shared?
For my work, I asked for reduce hours and take extra breaks. But I’m in retail so different work area.
Maybe you could think of stuff that would help with your job and talk to your boss. It is tricky, but i guess decided what is best for you. Staying where you are (seeing about adjustments) or stepping down. Maybe write out pros and cons for both. I find making lists like that help work through my thoughts
Best of luck
Hi @chellebelle,
It certainly sounds like you have a lot on your mind to consider on top of your treatment and how it might affect you. @mirkwood42_1 is right to point out that if you have breast cancer, employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to help you continue to work, return to work, have time off for medical appointments or for continued treatment and recovery. Your employment rights are protected under the Equality Act 2010. So it’s important that you realise all of your options before making any big decisions!
You can find more information about work and breast cancer here Work and breast cancer | Breast Cancer Now
Macmillan also have financial guides you can speak to and more guidance and information on work and cancer, and can be reached on their helpline 0808 808 0000. You may find it helpful just to talk through all this with an expert.
Either way I hope you are able to come to a decision that is best for you whatever that may be.
All the best,
Alice 
Hi . I can only share my experience and we are all different but I too worked through my treatment until the last radiotherapy session , when it hit me. My company wasn’t supportive. I too faced the issue of returning to work and found the organisation “Working with Cancer” very very helpful. I tried my best to get back in the swing but decided to request lesser hours. As it happens the company then had a restructure and I took the opportunity to take voluntary redundancy and jump! Best thing I ever did! I’m not an expert but think there’s a lot of”quiet quitting” in n operation in organisations when staff get a cancer diagnosis! 