Communicating with team members and colleagues

It is up to your employee to decide whether they want to share their diagnosis with their colleagues. 

It is important to talk to your employee early on about the level of detail they want to communicate with others in the workplace, and when and how they would like to tell others.

It is possible that your employee does not want to share their breast cancer diagnosis in the workplace.

Whatever their decision, it must be respected and adhered to.

The death of an employee

If your employee is diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and dies, it can be extremely difficult for colleagues to come to terms with.

People will react differently and some team members will need support, personally as well as professionally. Often this is an exhausting time, so it’s important to look after your own needs and be aware of support available to you.

You may want to think about ways to remember the person by setting up a memorial, such as a garden or a plaque.

You should also let your team know about any counselling service or employee assistance program (EAP) available to them.

Useful information

For further information, the following resources are available:

• Download BCNA's Tips for managers of people diagnosed with breast cancer to learn how to support your employee.
• For a simple explanation of breast cancer, download the plain English version of the About breast cancer booklet.