When I was first diagnosed three years ago, I had all the medical information I could handle. I learned about treatment protocols, side effects, and recovery timelines. But you know what nobody talked about? How to handle work during all of this.
And honestly, that's a huge gap because most of us can't just pause our careers indefinitely. Whether it's for financial reasons, insurance coverage, or simply because work gives us purpose and normalcy - the reality is that many people need to figure out how to balance their health challenges with their professional lives.
Here's the thing that surprised me most: one in two people will face a major health challenge in their lifetime. That means half of us are going to need to navigate this territory at some point. Yet we're all figuring it out as we go, often feeling isolated and unsure of our options.
I made the decision early on to step back from work completely during treatment. I didn't want the stress and overwhelm of trying to juggle everything when I needed to focus on getting better. But I know that's not possible or even desirable for everyone. I have friends who barely missed a day of work during treatment, and that worked for them.
The point is, there's no right or wrong way to handle work during a health challenge. But there are strategies, rights, and resources that can make whatever path you choose much more manageable.
When you're dealing with a health challenge, your relationship with work fundamentally changes. Your energy levels fluctuate in ways you've never experienced. Your priorities shift. Your capacity for certain tasks might be different. And that's completely normal.
But nobody tells you that, so you end up sitting there thinking something's wrong with you when really, you're just adapting to a new reality. And honestly? That adaptation is pretty incredible when you think about it.
The challenge is that our work culture often expects us to compartmentalize our health issues. Show up, be productive, don't let personal stuff interfere with professional responsibilities. But when your "personal stuff" is cancer treatment or managing a chronic condition, that expectation becomes not just unrealistic but potentially harmful.
One of the most important things I want people to understand is that you have actual legal rights when it comes to working with a health condition. I'm talking about real, enforceable protections - not just hoping your employer will be nice about it.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) covers way more than most people realize. It includes temporary conditions, chronic illnesses, cancer, and many other health challenges that we don't typically think of as "disabilities." Then there's the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which can provide protected time off for medical appointments, treatment, and recovery.
When I was working during those first few months of treatment, I was able to request accommodations that made a huge difference. For me, that meant shifting away from a client-facing role where I had to interact with the public face-to-face. With a compromised immune system and limited energy, that change was crucial.
But here's what breaks my heart - I've talked to so many people who had no idea these protections existed. They suffered through situations that could have been improved simply because they didn't know what options were available to them.
Let's talk about the elephant in the room - energy. This is probably the biggest thing I hear from people: "I just don't have the energy I used to have."
First off, that's completely normal. Whether you're in active treatment, survivorship, or managing any kind of ongoing health condition, your energy is different now. And that's not a character flaw or something you need to apologize for - it's just facts.
I had a perfect example of this just last weekend. I had family visiting for Memorial Day, and at one point my aunt asked if I was okay. The truth was, I was exhausted. My immediate family probably doesn't notice the shift as much because they see me regularly, but she hadn't seen me in about a year and picked up on it right away.
In a weird way, it was kind of nice that she noticed because it helped me recognize what my body was telling me. I decided to call it a night earlier than I normally would have, and wow - I felt like a new person the next day.
That's the thing about energy management - it's not about pushing through or pretending you have unlimited capacity. It's about working with what you've got and being strategic about how you use it.
When you're managing health stuff and work responsibilities, planning moves from "nice to have" to "absolutely necessary." And I know some of you are thinking, "Stephanie, I can barely remember to eat lunch, and you want me to plan?"
But here's the reality - when you're juggling medical appointments, fluctuating symptoms, work deadlines, and everything else that comes with a health challenge, having a system becomes crucial. It's not about being perfect or having everything figured out. It's about being intentional with the time and energy you have.
This is exactly why I created the Be Well Beat It planner. I needed something that could handle medical scheduling and symptom tracking while also keeping me on top of work responsibilities and personal goals. Because all of these things are connected - your energy patterns affect your work productivity, your appointment schedule impacts your project timelines, and your overall wellness influences everything else.
Whether you one of our planners or create your own system, the key is tracking patterns. When do you typically have more energy? When do you crash? How do medical appointments affect your productivity for the rest of that day or week? Understanding these patterns allows you to plan proactively instead of constantly reacting to whatever comes up.
One of the trickiest parts of managing work during a health challenge is figuring out who to tell what, and how much to share. The truth is, you don't owe anyone your complete medical history. But having a few people in your corner who understand your situation can make all the difference.
Maybe it's your direct supervisor who knows you might need to duck out for appointments. Maybe it's a trusted coworker who can cover certain tasks when you're having a rough day. Maybe it's someone in HR who understands your accommodation needs.
The key is being selective and clear about what you need without feeling like you have to justify or explain every detail of your health situation.
Knowing what to say can be just as challenging as knowing who to tell. I've learned that being professional but direct tends to work best. Instead of apologizing for your health needs or over-explaining your situation, focus on presenting solutions.
For example, instead of saying "I'm so sorry, but I might need to miss work sometimes because of my treatment," try "I'd like to discuss some schedule flexibility that would help me maintain my productivity while managing my medical appointments."
See the difference? You're positioning yourself as someone who's thinking strategically about solutions, not as someone asking for special treatment.
Let's be real - some days are going to be harder than others. You're going to have days where you can barely function, let alone be productive at work. And that's okay.
I've had days where I've sat at my desk and literally could not focus on anything. Days where the fatigue was so overwhelming I could barely keep my eyes open. Days where anxiety about my health made it impossible to think about anything else.
On those days, do what you can. Even if "what you can" is just showing up. Even if it's just answering a few emails. Even if it's just... surviving the day.
This journey from illness to wellness isn't linear. There will be setbacks and rough patches and days where you feel like you're moving backwards. But you're not. You're just human, dealing with real challenges, and doing the best you can with what you've got.
One thing I wish I'd known earlier is just how many resources are available for people navigating work and health challenges. Organizations like the Job Accommodation Network provide free consultations on workplace accommodations. The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship has incredible resources specifically for survivors dealing with workplace issues.
There are financial assistance programs, legal resources, support communities, and practical tools that can make this whole process so much more manageable. The problem is, most people don't know these resources exist until they really need them and start searching desperately.
If you're reading this because you're trying to figure out how to balance work and health challenges, here's what I want you to know: you have more options than you realize, and you're stronger than you think.
Start with one thing. Maybe it's researching your company's accommodation policies. Maybe it's having that conversation with your supervisor you've been putting off. Maybe it's starting to track your energy patterns for a week to better understand your natural rhythms.
Just pick one thing and start there. Because that's how we move from illness to wellness - one small, intentional step at a time.
This blog post just scratches the surface of what we covered in this week's episode of What Comes Next. In the full episode, I dive deep into specific communication scripts you can use with supervisors and HR, detailed strategies for energy management (including the spoon theory), step-by-step instructions for requesting accommodations, and much more.
I also share more personal stories from my own journey and give you a comprehensive list of resources with specific websites and organizations that can provide immediate help.
Whether you're currently going through treatment, in survivorship, supporting someone you love, or working with colleagues who are facing health challenges, this episode provides practical tools you can use right away.
You can listen to the full episode on Spotify, or visit nextpagewellness.com for direct links and additional resources.
Remember - your health and your career don't have to be mutually exclusive. With the right information, support, and strategies, you can navigate both successfully. You've got this.
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