COURIER L 38 IFE, OCT. 11-17, 2019
How to juggle
work and breastcancer
treatment
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
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 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 to-do 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.
Many women continue working
while being treated for breast cancer. A
few simple adjustments can help such
women overcome many treatment-related
obstacles.
juggle both their disease and their careers.
TURN YOUR CONCERN
INTO IMPACT.
The New York Community Trust
can help maximize your
charitable giving.
Contact Jane at
(212) 686-0010 x363
/Breastcancer.org
/Breastcancer.org
