What to Know About Returning to Work After Cancer Treatment: An Expert Q&A

This podcast is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice.

Getting back to work or applying for a new position after cancer treatment can be overwhelming. However, there are many resources and practical tips available to help you understand your legal rights and ease the challenges you may face as you transition back to work. 

In this podcast, Fay J. Hlubocky, PhD, MA, FASCO, and Shelly Rosenfeld, Esq., discuss what people with cancer and survivors should know when they are thinking about returning to work after cancer treatment, including laws that protect workers, how to talk to your employer and co-workers, and tips for navigating the workplace. 

• How might people think about work differently after their cancer experience? [3:00]

• What are some common concerns people may have about returning to work after cancer treatment? [4:31] 

• What legal protections do people applying for a new job after cancer treatment have? [8:45]

• What should people with cancer and survivors know about requesting certain accommodations at work, such as more frequent breaks or changes to their workspace? [11:19] 

• How can someone prepare for the conversations they may have with coworkers when returning to work after cancer treatment? [17:31] 

• What are some tips for coping with the emotions and stress that may arise when returning to work after cancer treatment? [19:53]

• What resources are available to people who may face workplace discrimination? [22:29] 

Dr. Hlubocky is a licensed clinical health psychologist with expertise in psychosocial oncology and a health care ethicist at the University of Chicago Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, the Supportive Oncology Program, and the Maclean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. She is also the 2024 Cancer.Net Associate Editor for Psychosocial Oncology. Ms. Rosenfeld is the former director of the Disability Rights Legal Center’s Cancer Legal Resource Center, which provides free information and resources about cancer-related issues. 

Disclosure information for Dr. Hlubocky can be found in her individual biography linked to above. Ms. Rosenfeld has no relationships relevant to this content to disclose.

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