I was a high school maths teacher for 24 years, but I retired in April 2021. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and had the government benefit of paid leave. I took the first year off for treatment and then things got better, but then later the cancer came back. At this point I took another year of paid leave, but this meant I had exhausted all leave benefit.

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I go for treatment once a month. I feel lucky as I receive a lot of support from my family and I got a lot of support from my workplace. The school principal arranged for me to do lighter work instead of harder tasks. Overall, there were no real issues as the school was helpful, allowing me to teach the easier classes. I went back to work for almost 5 years. The hardest part is dealing with the side effects of the treatment.

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My advice to anyone returning to work with ABC would be: Try to be at peace with what is happening. I have always been a positive person with a positive mindset. As a Buddhist I believe in karma, and I believe cancer is not the end of my journey. I’m setting a good example for my children. I still feel lucky for all the support I have received. When I reached last-stage cancer, my doctor said I would only survive 2 years, but it has already been 7 years. My message to cancer patients is to stay positive and that anything is possible.

To employers I would say: The relationship between you and your employee is very important, and it is important they are understanding and accommodating of the situation. And moral support is sometimes even more important than the financial support. A simple greeting can bring a positive mood to the patient for the entire day.

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I have heard unsettling stories where someone has been diagnosed with cancer, and the employer has just asked them to resign, and this makes me really sad.

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In my workplace they were really good to me, which is why I wanted to stay.

I was a high school maths teacher for 24 years, but I retired in April 2021. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and had the government benefit of paid leave. I took the first year off for treatment and then things got better, but then later the cancer came back. At this point I took another year of paid leave, but this meant I had exhausted all leave benefit.

‍

I go for treatment once a month. I feel lucky as I receive a lot of support from my family and I got a lot of support from my workplace. The school principal arranged for me to do lighter work instead of harder tasks. Overall, there were no real issues as the school was helpful, allowing me to teach the easier classes. I went back to work for almost 5 years. The hardest part is dealing with the side effects of the treatment.

‍

My advice to anyone returning to work with ABC would be: Try to be at peace with what is happening. I have always been a positive person with a positive mindset. As a Buddhist I believe in karma, and I believe cancer is not the end of my journey. I’m setting a good example for my children. I still feel lucky for all the support I have received. When I reached last-stage cancer, my doctor said I would only survive 2 years, but it has already been 7 years. My message to cancer patients is to stay positive and that anything is possible.

To employers I would say: The relationship between you and your employee is very important, and it is important they are understanding and accommodating of the situation. And moral support is sometimes even more important than the financial support. A simple greeting can bring a positive mood to the patient for the entire day.

‍

I have heard unsettling stories where someone has been diagnosed with cancer, and the employer has just asked them to resign, and this makes me really sad.

‍

In my workplace they were really good to me, which is why I wanted to stay.