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Sharing the News

One of the biggest challenges employees with cancer face is sharing their diagnosis with their employers and co-workers. Determining what to tell — and to whom — can give rise to a complicated grid of questions. The following can help you simplify the process.

HOW TO TELL
You've decided whom. You think you know what. Now comes what some of us consider the most difficult part how do we go about telling people our diagnosis? Prepare for Misconceptions If you're apprehensive about telling your co-workers, it's not unwarranted. Despite all of the advancements and...

SHOULD YOU TELL
Let's get one thing out of the way first: you don't have to tell anyone at your workplace about your diagnosis...unless. Yes, there's a caveat you do have to tell if your diagnosis interferes with performing your basic duties. Deciding whether to tell and who to tell is an intensely personal...

TELLING YOUR CHILDREN
As a clinical psychologist, Carolyn Ingram is an expert at helping people cope with life's challenges. But after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, she had to handle a problem that was new territory for her: deciding how she and her husband should best tell their daughter Leslie Ann, then...

TELLING YOUR CHILDREN: SPECIAL ADVICE FOR SINGLE MOTHERS
When a divorced, widowed, separated or single mom gets cancer, she's lacking the in-house support of another adult that married women can usually rely on. "The challenges are greater for the single mom," says Ellen Zahlis, a researcher at the University of Washington, Seattle, who studies the ...

WHAT TO TELL
In addition to determining who to tell, give some serious thought to what, and how much, they need to know. The Facts If you want to keep the information you share to a minimum, consider disclosing the following: Your exact diagnosis An explanation, in layman's terms, of what your ...

WHEN TO TELL
If only there were a "sharing" timeline perfect for all cancer patients! Obviously, you'll tell your immediate family, friends and loved ones first -- which is plenty to handle. Give yourself time to answer their questions and process the experience before you share the news at work. In most cases,...

WHO TO TELL
Your boss? Your coworkers? Human resources? The answer depends on you and your experience in your work environment. First, determine who really needs to know and start by talking to those people who make you feel most comfortable. If you're completely in doubt, start with HR and let their experience...