Working With Cancer

A few weeks ago, Working With Cancer’s Barbara Wilson was one of the speakers at NHS England’s ‘Improving the lives of patients with cancer’ which took place at the Fielder Centre, University of Hertfordshire. The event focused on the important topic of supporting patients and colleagues living with a cancer diagnosis and included real life experiences. It was great after the event to receive feedback from the Enhance Team at NHS England, East of England about Barbara’s talk and the impact it had. You can read for yourself what they said: "We are hugely grateful to you for joining us to deliver your session on Working with Cancer and the vital role that your social enterprise plays in supporting working age adults living with cancer and navigating employment.  We also appreciate that the support offered by Working with Cancer was born from your own experience which we are grateful to you for sharing.  Thanks to your session healthcare professionals in attendance will now be better able to highlight the rights of those who are living with Cancer and now understand that there is support available for those who wish to continue working following their diagnosis as this is such an important part of life which continues before, during and beyond treatment". If you would like to find out more about how Working With Cancer can support your organisation and workplace, get in touch with the team today by emailing admin@workingwithcancer.co.uk or head to our website. #workingwithcancer #nhsengland

We’re thrilled to welcome two incredible coaches to the Working With Cancer team. Caitlin E McDonald, PhD has been coaching since 2017, with a thoughtful approach grounded in empathy and curiosity, shaped by her background in anthropology. She’s an award-winning academic and strategic advisor who brings a multidisciplinary lens to her work. Her personal experience of triple negative breast cancer led her to coaching, and now she supports others navigating their own paths through cancer and work. Claire Warnes is an executive coach and consultant, helping professionals reflect on what matters most in the next chapter of their careers and lives. She lost her mum to ovarian cancer as a young adult and in 2021 was herself diagnosed with breast cancer leading to her stepping back from her consulting partner role at KPMG. Since then, Claire uses her lived experience and deep coaching expertise to walk alongside others going through cancer. Both Caitlin and Claire bring compassion, wisdom, and first-hand understanding to the work we do. We’re very lucky to have them on board and know they will be a great addition to our wonderful team to support employees impacted by cancer. #workingwithcancer #coaching #employeesupport

At Working With Cancer, we’re dedicated to supporting employees, employers, and the self-employed through every stage of a cancer diagnosis and return to work. Our Spring Newsletter is out now with insights, resources, and real stories to help navigate work and cancer with confidence. In this issue, you’ll find: 🔹 Latest news & updates – What’s happening at Working With Cancer? 🔹 Expert advice & guidance – Practical tips for employees, managers, and HR teams. 🔹 Inspiring stories – Real experiences from those balancing work and cancer. 🔹 Upcoming events & workshops – Find out what’s coming up and how to get involved. Read the full newsletter here 👇 https://lnkd.in/e_JC5Nv9 Whether you’re living with cancer, supporting a colleague, or leading a team, we’re here to help. If something in this edition resonates with you, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. #WorkingWithCancer

Every year, thousands of people put off using their NHS bowel cancer screening (FIT) kit. But did you know that out of every 5,000 people who complete their test, nine are diagnosed with cancer? Early detection can make all the difference. If you’re 54 to 74, you should receive a screening kit every two years and the NHS is gradually including those aged 50 to 53 too. The test is simple: ✔️ Done in the privacy of your home ✔️ Only requires a small sample ✔️ Could save your life April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, so if you’ve been putting it off, now’s the time to act. Find your kit. Put it by the loo. Don’t put it off. You can learn more about bowel cancer screening here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dAzzzV4 If this message could help someone you know, please share. Together, we can raise awareness and save lives. 💙 #BowelCancerAwarenessMonth #WorkingWithCancer #CancerScreening

Before being diagnosed with breast cancer last year, Amy McClelland had built an impressive career, rising to senior management roles at major television channels like Channel 4 and thriving in the fast-paced world of tech startups. But after stepping away from work to focus on treatment, re-entering the job market has been an uphill battle. 432 days out of work 108 job applications 9 interviews 3 task stages 0 job offers Sadly, Amy’s experience is not unique. Many people with cancer face unspoken bias when trying to return to work. The reality is: 🔹 A cancer diagnosis does not mean someone is less capable, less ambitious, or less valuable as an employee. 🔹 With the right support and flexibility, people can continue to thrive in their roles, just as they did before. 🔹 Cancer is legally recognised as a disability under the Equality Act 2010, meaning employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments. Yet, the barriers remain. The assumption that someone with a history of cancer is “too much of a risk” is not only unfair, it’s discrimination. At Working With Cancer, we support individuals navigating these challenges and work with businesses to create truly inclusive workplaces. Because talent, experience, and dedication don’t disappear with a diagnosis. We’d like to wish Amy all the best in her job search and hope that sharing this with our network might help in some way to secure a new role. #WorkingWithCancer https://lnkd.in/euxKEk9H

Going back to work after cancer can feel overwhelming. The physical, emotional, and professional challenges can make it hard to know where to start. That’s where coaching can make all the difference. 🔹 Navigating Change – Redefining your professional path after a diagnosis. 🔹 Managing Energy – Setting realistic expectations and clear boundaries. 🔹 Building Confidence – Overcoming worries about performance and workplace perceptions. 🔹 Effective Communication – Handling workplace conversations with clarity and confidence. No one should have to navigate this journey alone. If you or someone you know is facing this transition, professional coaching could be the key to a smoother, more confident return. Take a look below to read the words of one of our recent coachees about the positive impact it had on her. 👇 #workingwithcancer #coaching #cancerandwork #returntowork

Does your organisation have a policy in place for staff affected by cancer? If not, there’s another chance to join our online interactive workshop on Thursday 1st May for anyone in a leadership role. We will be sharing our recent findings about the lack of policies to support staff affected by cancer to help you to have a greater understanding of: 🔷 Highlights of our groundbreaking research with the Institute for Employment Studies. 🔷 How and why you should plan a cancer policy. 🔷 How and why training is essential to support managers. 🔷 How and why coaching can both retain and build staff loyalty. This will be a fantastic opportunity to learn more about what you should have in place for employees to help manage work and cancer. You can book your place now via the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/e4hrpPMs #workingwithcancer #onlineworkshop #HR #Employeesupport

Did you know we offer a range of support options, consultancy and training for organisations and their employees around work and cancer? 1 in 2 of us will be affected by cancer in our lifetime yet many organisations are unprepared to navigate these challenges. At Working With Cancer, we help businesses create a supportive, informed workplace through tailored training on ‘work and cancer.’ We cover: ✅ How to make reasonable adjustments for employees and carers ✅ Understanding the impact of cancer on work and wellbeing ✅ Navigating legal responsibilities under the Equality Act ✅ Having meaningful, compassionate conversations ✅ Supporting employees returning to work ✅ Managing bereavement sensitively We offer: 🔹 Train the Trainer programmes for HR teams 🔹 Bespoke training for managers and employees 🔹 Best Practice Guides with case studies and practical advice (available on our website including digital copies). 👉 If your organisation wants to be better prepared and improve how you support employees affected by cancer, get in touch to find out more. #Workingwithcancer #HR #EmployeeWellbeing

When music teacher, Nathaniel Dye was diagnosed with bowel terminal cancer, he chose to focus on raising awareness. Since then, he has been on a mission to help more people recognise the signs of cancer early and seek medical help before it’s too late. Routine bowel cancer screening is currently from the age of 54, but in April that will lower to 50. More than 90% of people survive bowel cancer when diagnosed at the earliest stage. Nathaniel has so far managed to raise more than £37,000 for cancer charities. The 39-year-old said "I am in my last year of life and I would just love for someone, somewhere to hear, 'please get yourself checked'." You can find out more about Nathaniel's mission in the BBC article below. 👇 #CancerAwareness #WorkingWithCancer #TerminalCancer https://lnkd.in/emmv76mm

Next Wednesday, Working Cancer’s Barbara Wilson will be one of the speakers at ‘Improving the lives of patients with cancer’, a FREE development opportunity for healthcare professionals. She will be joined by Ceinwen Giles of Shine Cancer Support and Meera Shah who will be sharing their insights and experiences about: 🔹 Patient journey: hear from an NHS clinical colleague with lived experience. 🔹 Transformative reflection: what can we do better for working age patients as healthcare professionals? 🔹 Leadership: how we can support colleagues of working age who are living with cancer, receiving treatment and continuing to work. You can learn more and register for the event using the QR code below. ⤵️ #workingwithcancer #NHSEngland