How to juggle work and breast-cancer treatment
Age is a risk factor for
breast cancer, and the
organization Susan G.
Komen notes that the older a
woman is, the more likely she
is to get breast cancer. However,
data from the National
Cancer Institute indicates
that breast cancer rates in
women begin to increase after
age 40, meaning many women
diagnosed with breast cancer
have to juggle both their disease
and their careers.
The nonprofit organization
Breastcancer.org says that
breast cancer treatments can
produce some cognitive side
effects that affect thinking and
memory. Memory loss and difficulty
concentrating are two
such side effects that can make
it difficult for working women
to do their jobs while being
treated for breast cancer.
Professional women diagnosed
with breast cancer may
be able to take advantage of
short- and long-term disability
programs that provide a
percentage of their incomes if
they are diagnosed with an illness
that prevents them from
doing their jobs. In addition,
Breastcancer.org notes that, in
the United States, the Family
COURIER L 12 IFE, OCT. 9-15, 2020
and Medical Leave Act allows
employees to maintain their
benefits and keep their
jobs while taking up
to 12 weeks of unpaid
leave to heal from serious
health conditions.
Despite those options,
many women
may want to continue
working while receiving
treatment for
breast cancer. Such
women can heed the
following tips, courtesy of
Breastcancer.org, to overcome
any cognitive effects of treatment
so they can continue to
perform their jobs capably:
Start taking notes. Start
taking notes during meetings,
important work-related conversations,
and even doctor’s
appointments to counter any
issues with memory. Keep
such notes on a tablet or smartphone
so they can be quickly
and easily accessed throughout
the day.
Write down deadlines
and work schedules. Accomplished
professionals may
keep lists of deadlines and
work schedules in their heads,
but that internal list might not
be so reliable while women are
being treated for breast
cancer. Make use of the
calendar function on
your smartphone or tablet
to note deadlines, even
setting alerts so you receive
routine reminders
when important dates are
coming up.
Make and routinely
update a to-do list. Some
professional women diagnosed
with breast cancer may be juggling
work, treatment, and
their families. Keeping a todo
list and checking items off
as they’re completed can help
women effectively manage
such juggling acts and save
time.
Set realistic goals. Breast
cancer treatment can produce
a host of side effects, including
fatigue. So women who
plan to continue working during
treatment should be sure
to set realistic goals that take
into account the effects that
treatment may have on their
energy levels. If need be, delegate
more tasks and ask for
more help.
Data from the National Cancer Institute indicates that breast cancer
rates in women begin to increase after age 40, meaning many women
diagnosed with breast cancer have to juggle both their disease and
their careers.
/Breastcancer.org
/Breastcancer.org
/Breastcancer.org