Will My Cancer Get Me Fired?

Some people can still work and go through cancer treatment. What you can do will depend on your stage of cancer, your treatment, and how you feel.  What you shouldn’t have to worry about is getting fired for having cancer.

“We always encourage people to continue to work if they are able to,” says Sarah Stapleton, a clinical social worker at Montefiore Medical Center. “I think it creates a sense of normalcy for patients.”  If you’re able to work, you’ll be busy and you won’t be worrying all the time about how your treatment is going, she says.

Some people may need to make adjustments, like being closer to the bathroom, or having a lighter workload. However, there may be times when you realistically won’t be able to work, whether that’s because you have to take time off to go get treatment, or you’re too weak after treatment to come in to the office. In those cases, most people use some of their vacation days or apply for unpaid family medical leave, Stapleton says.

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