Podcasts

Going Back To Work After Cancer

More people than ever are surviving cancer thanks to advances in medicine. However, it can often be difficult for people to return to normal life after recovering from their illness, particularly adjusting to being back at work. Counsellor and psychotherapist Angela Buckley says people who have been through cancer are often very different people when they return to work: "What we see on the outside doesn't always reflect what's happening on the inside for the person." Physically, fatigue can be a huge issue, while emotionally, cancer can knock a person's confidence and lead to anxiety and depression. Valerie McArdle was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2017. She was told it couldn't be cured but could be controlled, and had six months of intensive chemotherapy and two years of maintenance, which she has just finished. Valerie was off work during her chemo as she didn't have the concentration her job required. When the time came to go back, her employer suggested that she do shorter days due to the commute involved. She spoke to everyone she knew in work about her cancer to get the conversations out of the way, and also availed of the ARC Cancer Support services. Valerie says she has become "much more tolerant" of herself and others since having cancer. Her advice to anybody going back to work after having cancer is to give it at least an extra two weeks, as often when you think you're ready to go back, you're not. If you are going through cancer and need support, visit arccancersupport.ie. Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page. see more