Working through treatment

After a breast cancer diagnosis, everyone’s priorities are different. You may choose to continue to work, take time off or give up work completely. There is no right or wrong, and your choice will be dependent on your circumstances.

The following information is tailored to those who are self-employed. However, the considerations and suggestions we provide here may be helpful for anyone with breast cancer who is working, planning to return to work or managing multiple life roles. 

Considerations

Side effects from breast cancer differ from person to person, and it’s important to be aware of them so you can make the necessary adjustments for your role or business. For example, you may need time away from work to have treatment, to rest and recuperate both physically and emotionally.

Upon your return to work, it’s likely you will need to adjust your working day to accommodate for fatigue and your physical capability. Your doctors can prescribe medication to relieve symptoms. However, it’s important to have a back-up plan for your role or business in case there are times when you are unable to work.

Continuing work

If you are thinking about continuing to work during treatment, ask yourself the following questions:

• Will I need to cut back my work temporarily?
• Will I need to run my business in a different way to allow time for treatment and recuperation?
• Can I pay someone to run my business and still make a profit from it?
• Who will be able to help me in practical ways?
• Will I need extra financial help during this time?
• Will it be safe for my employees if I continue working during treatment?
• Have I spoken to my insurers to check if I am still covered?

Workload

These tips may help you manage your workload should you need to reduce the hours you're available to work:

• Decide what absolutely must be completed and what can be left until later.
• Prioritise tasks that need your unique skills and experience and can’t be undertaken by anyone else.

Flexibility

These tips may help you manage your time and give you the flexibility you need to continue working:

• Be realistic about deadlines.
• Allow yourself extra time in case you feel unwell. 
• Schedule in time for breaks and activities that help you to relax or feel better.
• Think about different ways of getting the job done , for example, working from home instead of travelling to the office or to a client.

Delegating

Even if you don’t have employees, you can still have a team of contractors or freelancers for a period of time.

Incorporating strategies to delegate work tasks may be helpful:

• Hire a freelance assistant or bookkeeper who works from their own premises.
• Use a subcontractor for some parts of a project.
• Ask someone to manage your website and/or social channels for a short period.
• Use a fulfilment house temporarily.

It may be helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

• Which tasks have to be completed daily?
• Can someone cover the days when I can’t?
• Do I have contacts in the same trade or profession who could assist me?
• Are there domestic chores someone could help with, so I can concentrate on work?

Managing side effects

Side effects of treatment can be difficult to manage at any stage. When you are self-employed, however, you may not have the level of support that someone employed by a large organisation has. This can make managing side effects more difficult.

The following tips can help when dealing with side effects:

• Keep a diary of how you feel during your treatment. This will help you gauge patterns to know when you’re likely to feel well enough to work.
• Talk to your health professionals about scheduling your treatments at times best suited to you.
• Meditation and complementary therapies can ease stress, tension and anxiety.
• Eat a healthy balanced diet to keep your energy levels up.
• Plan to rest after activities and meals.