Returning to Work

Some patients experience side effects and/or face logistical issues during their radiation course, which make working full time difficult or impossible. As such, depending on your job responsibilities, you may have been recommended by your physicians to work on a limited basis or to not work at all during your radiation treatments. Once your radiation therapy treatments are complete, your job may ask your physicians to update them on your progress and to determine when you might be able to return to work in either a part time or full time capacity.

Over the first few weeks after completing radiation therapy, your symptoms will likely improve, and you will be seen by your doctors to manage any bothersome side effects you are experiencing. If your workplace requires any paperwork or notices to be submitted on your behalf, please forward it to your physician's office as soon as possible, and allow them ample time to properly fill out and submit the paperwork on your behalf. Make sure you discuss with them your job responsibilities, including any lifting or other manual tasks, along with how you are feeling so your doctors can make a proper assessment.

Major issues that patient’s face when returning to work include job retention, paid leave, and health insurance. These issues and their solutions can vary depending on your employer and your particular position within the company, so it is important that you discuss these issues with your employer and the human resources department. Your radiation oncology team may have a social worker, cancer navigator, or other resource that may be able to point you in the right direction, so please make sure to ask your team for more details or direction.