Balancing Cancer and Careers Seminar St. Louis!

by Laura Mosiello
filed under Balancing Cancer and Careers, CLRC, Community Seminar, St. Louis

This past Wednesday, July 21st, members of the Cancer and Careers team traveled to St. Louis for our Balancing Cancer and Careers Seminar at the Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel. This event was a collaboration among Cancer and Careers, Genentech, the Wellness Community of Greater St. Louis, the Cancer Support Community and the Young Survival Coalition.

This free, interactive seminar featured the expert advice of:

• Kate Sweeney, Executive Director, Cancer and Careers
• Dr. Steven Sorscher, Oncology Division, Washington University Medical Center
• Joanna Morales, Esq., Director, Cancer Legal Resource Center

The night was a tremendous success as panelists and participants exchanged information and stories surrounding the delicate balance of cancer and employment.

If you were present at the session or missed this event, please feel free to leave your questions and comments below and we will get back to you.
 

Kate Sweeney addressing the room

 

Our panel taking Q&A

 

Seattle, WA Balancing Cancer and Careers Seminar

by Alice McKenney
filed under Community Seminar, Seattle, Upcoming Events

We're excited to announce that we will be making our first trip to Seattle, WA to host our Balancing Cancer and Careers seminar.  If you're in the area, join us for this free interactive and educational event!

• Laura Mosiello, LCSW-R, Program Director and Senior Clinical Supervisor Cancer and Careers, will provide practical advice and concrete solutions for employees affected by cancer.
• Dr. Julie Gralow, Director of Breast Medical Oncology, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and Professor, Oncology Division, University of Washington School of Medicine, will discuss the value of working through treatment.
• Monica Fawzy, Esq., Cancer Legal Resource Center, will address patient rights in the workplace.

When:
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
6:00 PM
Refreshments will be provided.
Where:
Westin Seattle
1900 5th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
FREE valet parking will be provided.

RSVP:
(212) 445-8348 or
cancerandcareers@webershandwick.com

No tickets will be issued. Reservations for you and your guests will be held at the door.

The Balancing Cancer and Careers Seminar is a collaboration between Cancer and Careers, Genentech, Gilda's Club Seattle, the Cancer Support Community and the Young Survival Coalition Seattle.

Disclosing your cancer on a job application

by Alice McKenney
filed under career coaching, Disclosure, Job application

Recently Kayleen asked a great question on our career coaching site: "I have just finished chemotherapy for colon cancer and need to find a job. What should I say on my application as to why I left my last job?" 

Rosalind, one of our careers coaches, was very frank saying "If the job application asks you directly about reasons for leaving your last job, then you clearly have three choices: tell the truth, lie or avoid a direct answer… I think the best response is to give a small bit of vague information. You might play around with: '...it was no longer a good fit' or '...the job had changed and was no longer a good fit'." Click here to continue reading Rosalind's advice.

If you are dealing with addressing your illness on your resume rather than in a job application, it can often come down to tweaking it to make gaps in employment due to cancer treatment less obvious. For instance, only including the years you were employed by a company rather than months as well. For more on this, check out some of our sample resumes here and here.

And don't forget, if you want personalized advice, our career coaches are always available here!

Women and men share their work and cancer experiences

by Alice McKenney
filed under In the news, Online Diary, Share your story

Occasionally in the news you hear about a cancer survivor's experience with their workplace.  Sometimes it's a great example of the survivor and their workplace working really well together (such as this Georgia sheriff's experience) and other times it's less positive resulting in the survivor leaving their job or being forced to take legal action.

Regardless of the story, sharing your cancer and work experience is beneficial, both to you and those reading it.  Writing about your experiences can be really therapeutic, allowing you to step back and think about everything that you've gone through and hopefully help someone else in the process.  On the flipside, reading someone's survivor story can be inspiring and uplifting, or if the experience was less than positive it can help show you what challenges and pitfalls to look out for while navigating your workplace.

There are many websites that offer you the chance to share your story and read others (such as MyHopeSpace and Blog For A Cure) but our Online Diary is the only place on the web where you can read more than 75 personal stories about working through cancer.  Please read some of the stories today, or share your own!

Meet the Cancer and Careers Staff, Part 5!

by Laura Mosiello
filed under Laura Mosiello, Meet the Staff, Program Director, Senior Clinical Supervisor

Hi Everyone! It’s my first week as part of the Cancer and Careers team. I’m happy to report I am the 5th staff member to come aboard and I am assuming the role of Program Director and Senior Clinical Supervisor. I will be responsible for a wide array of programmatic tasks, which includes facilitating the launch of our Young Adult Support Group in September as well as our ongoing Cancer Support Group. Apart from Cancer and Careers, everyone knows that I love my dog Spalding, reality TV and a good laugh when my favorite comics are in town performing.

And don't forget to virtually meet the other members of the Cancer and Careers team!  Below are links to our four other Meet The Staff blogs.

Kate Sweeney, Executive Director

Rebecca Nellis, Director of Programs

Devon Slauenwhite, Director of Development

Alice McKenney, Foundation Coordinator

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Advocates for More Oral Chemo Insurance Coverage

by Kate Sweeney
filed under Cancer advocacy, chemotherapy, Leukemia Lymphoma Society, LLS, Oral Chemo

Thanks Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has tirelessly advocated to get legislation passed that would direct health insurance companies to cover oral chemotherapy drugs at a cost equal to what is charged for intravenous (IV) therapies.

And on Tuesday, June 22, their efforts paid off. The New York State Senate passed legislation that directs private health insurance companies in New York to cover oral chemotherapy drugs at a cost equal to thier intravenous (IV) counterparts.

Since they don't require lengthy visits to the treatment facilities, oral chemotherapies can be the most convenient option for working people with cancer. But the costs are often higher than IV chemos. This legislation will make oral chemotherapies more affordable for cancer patients.

Thanks Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for leading the charge in this important piece of legislation!

 

Cancer Organization Spotlight: First Descents

by Rebecca Nellis
filed under Brad Ludden, Cancer, Cancer Organization Spotlight, First Descents, Young Adults

Periodically we like to spotlight organizations we think are doing innovative and important work, today we'd like to introduce First Descents. 

First Descents is committed to curing young adults of the emotional effects of cancer and empowering them to regain control of their lives by experiencing whitewater kayaking and other challenging adventure sports in a safe, fun and supportive environment.  Having met a number of past participants, I can safely say that not only do they create bonds with each other that last well past the trip but the confidence they gain from conquering these physical challenges resonates into all areas of their lives.  Founded by professional kayaker Brad Ludden in 2000, the orgranization has served more than 600 young adults with cancer.  Today they run nine programs in six states all of them free of charge to participants.

For more information please visit: www.firstdescents.org/

 

 

Chicago Cancer Rights Conference

by Alice McKenney
filed under Balancing Cancer and Careers seminar, Cancer Legal Resource Center, Chicago Cancer Event, CLRC

This past Friday, June 18th, was the Chicago Cancer Rights Conference.  Hosted by the Cancer Legal Resource Center, it included many sessions such as Employment and Taking Time Off Work, Getting and Keeping Health Insurance, Navigating Managed Care, Estate Planning, and Disability and Life Insurance Options.

Cancer and Careers was proud to host the Employment and Taking Time Off Work session.  Our speakers included (left to right):

• Rebecca Nellis, Director of Programs, Cancer and Careers, who provided practical advice and concrete solutions for employees affected by cancer.
• Chadi Nabhan, M.D., F.A.C.P., Director, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, who discussed the value of working through treatment.
• Dianne Prado, Esq., Cancer Legal Resource Center, who addressed patient rights in the workplace.

Kudos to our panelists and moderator Joanna Morales, Esq. of the CLRC -- the session was really well received, and there was so many questions that our session ran over! 

If you were at the session (or even if you missed it!) feel free to leave your questions/comments below and we will be sure to get back to you.  And for more pictures check out our Facebook album: http://www.facebook.com/CancerandCareers#!/album.php?aid=180834&id=18305564790&ref=mf.

 

 

When Your Boss Has Cancer...

by Kate Sweeney
filed under boss, Cancer, mentor, Work

Recently, we received this email which so eloquently pointed out an aspect of cancer in the workplace that is rarely addressed:

"My boss is the one with cancer. Not only are we watching our friend and boss die before our eyes, but we are slowly losing our champion, protector, advocate, go-to person, and mentor. How can we ask for a day off to play when she is so ill? Or approve a training seminar when her world is filled with issues so much more pressing than grant writing? We are also plagued with thoughts of what will come "after" and who will be our next boss - a dreadful thought." 

So what do you do when your boss has cancer? We consulted the experts to find out, and have a great new article for you:

http://www.cancerandcareers.org/coworkers/Boss_with_cancer/

Need to get your blood flowing? Three exercises you can do at your desk

by Alice McKenney
filed under Desk, Exercises, Nutrition, On The Go Guides

These exercises will not only help reduce wrist and shoulder strain from long days at your computer, they will also improve flexibility and reduce stress.

1. SHOULDER SHRUG: Place arms down alongside the body and breathe in through the nose. Raise shoulders to your ears and hold for five seconds; as you breathe out through the lips, push shoulders down and engage your back muscles; hold for five seconds.  Repeat two times.
2. SHOULDER AND UPPER BACK TONE AND TIGHTEN: Breathe in and as your breathe out, raise arms out to the sides, palms facing down.  Force the arms back and up to create tension; hold for ten seconds, then release arms and move them back to the sides.  Repeat four times.
3. THE SWIM: Place both arms out in front, palms facing each other.  Breathe in as you sweep your arms to the sides of the body parallel to the floor and push back.  Breathe out as you bring your arms forward.  Repeat five times.

These exercises were excerpted from our 3-part On The Go Guide Series.  These brochures feature tips on Nutrition, Fitness and Make-Up.  To download or order for free, visit this page: http://cancerandcareers.org/publications/.