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Survivors

Survivors

Cancer and Work Development Team

Cancerandwork.ca is a website led by Dr. Christine Maheu, from McGill University and Ms. Maureen Parkinson, from the British Columbia Cancer Agency and their core team members, in partnership with the de Souza Institute. Advisory board members and expert writers made up of interdisciplinary clinicians, legal experts, management and policy makers, and academics also contributed to the content of the website.

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Home / Survivors

A cancer survivor is anyone with a cancer diagnosis at any point—during or after treatment, or living with cancer—and the people who support them (family, friends, caregivers), consistent with the National Cancer Institute’s survivorship definition.

This section offers practical tools to stay at, return to, or find work; understand workplace rights and benefits; and manage common work-related challenges such as fatigue, cognitive changes, and mental health.

Interactive Tools

Interactive tools to aid in assessment, communication and coping.

Are you thinking about staying at work or going back to work after being diagnosed with or treated for cancer?

Returning to work following cancer is a very important decision. With proper planning, you may avoid some challenges.

This website is designed to help you with the process of returning or staying at work. The Cancer and Work website is collaboratively built using the knowledge from cancer survivors, healthcare providers, vocational rehabilitation specialists, human resources professionals, and other experts.

While the focus of the website is on returning to work after treatment and recovery, many of the ideas can also help cancer patients who want to stay at work during this period. This website also includes ideas for cancer survivors who may not be working when they are diagnosed, or who may want or need to change jobs.

Cancer Survivor

Return to work and stay at work

There are helpful steps to planning to return to work. This section helps guide you through the process.

Finding new work

Explore strategies and guidance to support your job search.

Tips for communication

Open communication with your care team, employer, and insurer makes return to work smoother and more successful.

Cancer's impact: Symptoms and strategies

Learn how cancer and its treatments can affect your work — and explore ways to lessen their impact.

Law and policy

Understand your rights and protections as an employee or job seeker living with or beyond cancer.

Caregivers

Find strategies and resources to balance caregiving responsibilities while maintaining your own well-being and work life.

Other

Assessment of work abilities; Workplace accommodations ideas; Workplace wellbeing; Finance and disability; Caregivers