232. Empowering Breast Cancer Patients in the Workplace: Insights and Experiences

Breast Cancer Conversations

In today's episode, we tackle a highly requested topic: navigating work while living with MBC. We explore the complexities of managing a career, discussing when to work, when to consider disability, and how to maintain health insurance and benefits amidst a metastatic diagnosis.

Our guest, Abigail Johnston, leads our MBC webinar series and has assembled an incredible panel of women who share their firsthand experiences of working with MBC
Our panelists include:

• Holly, from Portland, who was diagnosed de novo metastatic and continues to work a physically demanding job at the Humane Society.
• Lisa Hahn, from Alexandria, Virginia, who works for Pew Charitable Trust and has been living with MBC since 2019.
• Dawn McDaniel, a psychologist who founded Mystical Energies and was diagnosed with MBC in April 2023.
• Wendy Casper, a psychologist and professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, who has been researching work-life balance and cancer diagnosis communication.

The panelists share their unique stories, from disclosing their diagnosis to requesting reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. They also discuss the importance of self-care and the challenges of balancing work with treatment schedules.

We highlight resources like cancerandcareers.org and triagecancer.org, which provide invaluable guidance for those navigating cancer in the workplace. These organizations offer state-specific resources and federal protections under the ADA.

Each journey is unique. No one is alone in this experience. We encourage our listeners to reach out with topics or to share their stories on our show.
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About SurvivingBreastCancer.org: SurvivingBreastCancer.org, Inc. (SBC) is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit virtual platform headquartered in Boston with a national and global reach. Through education, community, and resources, SurvivingBreastCancer.org supports women and men going through breast cancer. We provide a sanctuary of strength, compassion, and empowerment, where those diagnosed with cancer unite to share their stories, learn invaluable coping strategies to manage wellness and mental health, and find solace in the unbreakable bond that fuels hope, resilience, and the courage to conquer adversity.

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