Episode 44: Work after breast cancer: Tackling the difficult conversations

Upfront About Breast Cancer

We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting.

Let’s be Upfront about working after breast cancer and tackling the difficult conversations you may need to have with your employer. Some people feel comfortable discussing their diagnosis and treatment, and find that their employer is understanding, supportive and compassionate, allowing them to focus on their health and recovery. Others, however, may find negotiating changes and voicing challenges with their employer difficult, making an already hard situation worse.

Joining us for this episode of Upfront are Greg Smith and Lisa Edgar. Greg has more than 20 years’ experience in executive coaching, mentoring and human resources consulting and has successfully led major organisational change programs in large organisations. Lisa is a BCNA member and had been working as an HR manager for three years when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and stopped work to focus on her recovery. Unfortunately, Lisa did not receive the support she needed from her employer.

We hear about how best to approach your employer to discuss your diagnosis and treatment and the impact it may have on your ability to work, what support you should expect from your workplace, challenges you may face when working after a diagnosis and what you can do if your employer is not supportive of you.

This podcast was recorded in June 2022.

RESOURCES:

· Sign up to My Journey to access a range of resources on work and breast cancer

· Visit the Work and Breast Cancer hub on BCNA’s website

· Learn about BCNA’s Workplace Giving program

· Visit our Online Network to connect with people going through a similar experience

Upfront About Breast Cancer is a production of Breast Cancer Network Australia. Our theme music is by the late Tara Simmons, and this episode is proudly brought to you by Sussan.

If this episode helped you or someone you know, you can support the show in the following ways to allow us to continue to be upfront with you and reach more people through meaningful content. Subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode, download so you always have an episode ready to listen to, leave a rating and review and tell us what you liked about the episode.

Want to get in touch? Visit our website at bcna.org.au, email us at [e-mail], or call our Helpline on 1800 500 258