Life after cancer : the unintended social consequences faced by cancer survivors at the workplace

Abstract

For a cancer survivor, being employed is one of the main indicators of returning to normal life. However, little is known about the experience of returning to work or re-employment after cancer, and existing studies are taken from a Western perspective. Cancer affects 1 in 4 Singaporeans and there is a need to understand the impact workplace communication has on cancer survivors and how it relates specifically to the Singapore context. This study aims to discover the non-medical aspect of cancer faced by survivors and how these issues relate to work. We also aim to explore the unintended social consequences (USC) of cancer at work, which are actions that lead to unanticipated results. Qualitative cases were collected from 10 breast cancer survivors using a Personal Impact Assessment (PIA) technique and a focus group discussion. Participants discussed important non-medical issues that relate to their self identity, self limitations, communication with family, peers and at the workplace, and social support. As a result of these non-medical aspects, the study revealed that low self-advocacy among survivors leads to USCs of compromised expectations at the workplace. Due to this, guidance and counseling in managing the non-medical aspects of cancer need to be offered simultaneously when patients undergo primary medical treatment.