After receiving a cancer diagnosis, you may want to continue working during treatment or return to your place of employment after treatment.
You may find your fatigue limits your ability to work a full shift. You may find it difficult to schedule work around the many follow up appointments that are often necessary. You may even decide that you no longer want to continue in the same line of work, or are physically unable to do so. Cancer rehabilitation can address many of these concerns, and assist you with a safe return to work.
Resources for returning to work
- Life After Cancer Treatment
- Getting Back on Track
- CancerSmart newsletter: Cancer and the workplace
- Wellness at Work: Moving Beyond Cancer and Letting Go
An online program delivered through Wellspring - Wellness at Work: Managing Stress in the Workplace
An online program delivered through Wellspring - Work and Cancer
- Prepare to return to work after treatment for cancer
Learn common concerns about returning to work, how to prepare for your return to work, and your rights as a worker. - Return to work advice from survivors
A research study interviewing head and neck cancer survivors at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre about their advice on returning to work. See pages 6-9 for the recommendations if you don’t want to read the whole study.
Find help with returning to work
- Survivorship Clinics at University Health Network
- Patient and Family Support Program at Sunnybrook Hospital
- Returning to Work
*UPDATE Sept 2020: This program is now available online. Participants may attend from anywhere in Canada.
Registration required. Once weekly, for 8 weeks. Available at the following Wellspring locations: Westerkirk House at Sunnybrook, Downtown Toronto, Chinguacousy, London and Halton-Peel. Please visit the Wellspring page for the location in which you wish to attend for details specific to that location. - Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Program
The AYA program can assist you with returning to work, and/or school. It is available for Princess Margaret Cancer Centre patients under the age of 39. You do not need a doctor’s referral. Further information available at the link above or by calling 416-946 -4501 ext. 5890. - Cancer and Work
The Cancer and Work website was designed to address the unique needs of cancer survivors with returning, remaining, changing work or looking for work after a diagnosis of cancer. The website provides newly created information, resources, and interactive tools for cancer survivors, healthcare providers, employers, and highlights helpful information from across the globe. - Use our Find a Program or Therapist option to find an option that works for you. Typically, occupational therapists are best able to assist with return to work programs, however, other services can be accessed if there is not an occupational therapist available to you (eg. Social workers can help with financial assistance programs, Physiotherapists can help with general conditioning, and so on).