As young cancer patients, we have to endure more than our disease, but the life changes that come with it. One of the changes may be a change in career plans, and this can have a varying psychosocial and emotional impact.

For me, personally, having a cancer diagnosis at the age of 27 vastly changed the direction of where my career was headed. I was working in healthcare already and also attending graduate school, but I didn’t know what kind of role I wanted to have in healthcare when I graduated. Getting cancer during this time and going through a very personal, yet somewhat traumatic experience helped me to realize that my purpose in life is to help other cancer patients. However, it’s not always as clear why we got cancer at the age we did, and how that will continually affect us. There are also no clear-cut rules on whether we should continue working even if we’re going through treatment, whom to tell about our diagnosis, and how, or how best to describe a gap in our resume. Luckily, the Cancer and Careers website has all the answers to some of our biggest questions:

1. Should I tell my employer?
   • Consider the side effects of treatment, the general law about disclosing, and your environment
     • If you think you’ll need to request a reasonable accommodation or medical leave, you may have to disclose a medical condition but not necessarily the diagnosis
     • Is your company big or small? Do people have close-knit relationships?
     • What are your side effects like and will they affect your daily productivity?
2. If I need to tell my employer, when do I tell them and whom do I go to?
   • It is best to let the people below know when you and your healthcare team have developed a plan for treatment
     • Your boss – generally you are protected by the ADA if you’ve made your employer aware of a medical condition
     • Human resources department
     • Co-workers, if you feel comfortable
3. What do I tell them?
   • Tell only as much as you want and prepare ahead of time what information you want to share
   • Tell them what to expect, for example, future absences or even changes in appearance
   • Reassure that you’re still a part of the team!
4. How do I explain a gap in my resume?
   • Remember that you’re not required to disclose your diagnosis during an application process or interview
   • Know that it is prohibited by law for any recruiter to ask about “health issues” should you choose to use that phrase to explain the gap
   • If your resume, list your skills first, and highlight community or volunteer work, as well as part-time and freelance work

More Resources:

• Free webinars on work and careers
• Free resume review service
• Resources for front-line managers
• Returning To Work After Cancer Treatment. Part 1: Preparing the Ground
• Returning To Work After Cancer Treatment. Part 2

Carly Flumer

Carly Flumer is a young woman who was diagnosed with stage I papillary thyroid cancer at the age of 27. She recently received her Master’s degree from Boston University in Health Communication and received her Bachelor’s from George Mason University in Health Administration and Policy. While being diagnosed with the “C” word at such a young age was a surprise, as it would be to anyone, she found strength, support, and inspiration in sharing her cancer journey on social media. As a result of her health outcome, she looks to advocate for other cancer patients through education, research, and health literacy.