Hi everyone, I finished my treatment for TNBC (surgery, chemo and radiation) in June. Since then, I've been applying for jobs, as I'm keen to get back into the work force and earning some income. My question - when the question comes up, "Do you have any conditions which could potentially affect you carrying out the role?" should I disclose that I have had cancer? On one hand, I am now healthy and treatment is over, so I will not have to take time off work for that. Technically, I do not have cancer anymore. On a day to day basis, it does not affect my carrying out a job. However, there is a chance, albeit a small one, that it could recur, which would mean time off work, and could "potentially" affect me being able to carry out a job due to stress / depression or further treatment etc. I really don't know what to do in this case, it's not like it's a chronic ongoing condition which requires regular time off, or something like diabetes, where the person may require extra time off during the day to take insulin etc. I have applied for about a hundred jobs, and when I've been asked that question I say no, but then I feel like it's a pre-existing condition and I should say yes. I'd love to hear what others have done in this situation, or any suggestions...I don't want to miss out for something that may not ever recur!

Well hi there again. I was in HR for 25+ years. The short answer is no you do not have to disclose you have been treated for cancer unless you require ongoing treatment. If you want to tell people your history after you are working, that is up to you. It is personal information. I also wouldn't say anything at interview or screening as people, including recruiters, are liable to make misjudgements based on ignorance. You have no existing condition. Good luck with the job hunt. It can be tough out there at times. Regards Julie

Thanks so much for the informed comment Julie! I haven't been saying anything about it, but as I said, I come out of it feeling like I should have. Good to get an "insider's" perspective! Job hunting at the moment - hmmm...I'm actually finding that there's a fair bit to apply for, I'm doing a few applications a day usually...have had 4 phone interviews and 2 face to face so far, with another phone interview tomorrow and a face to face next week. I'm also looking at starting a Diploma in Business Admin which should help a bit too. At least I have some hair now! I can imagine that would have made job hunting quite hard. Hope all is well with you, are you back in Australia yet??

Not back in Oz until Feb for nipple rebuild! Been busy staying cool and taking care of new rescue cat. Well Omani bin cat really. All legs, tail and yowl! hope it was some help. Come over if u r bored. Lots of room! love julie

Hi, I was made redundant a week ago and prior to this had already been applying for jobs and registering at recruitment agencies. One recruitment company sent a pre-employment health questionnaire for white collar employees, which I filled out what I thought was honestly, disclosing my (treated) DCIS and also osteoarthritis. I regret doing this now. Didn't even progress to an interview, yet they were the company that initially contacted me. The questionnaire was very comprehensive with the medical conditions listed being very long. Makes it very easy to discriminate I think. The wording "You are required by law to disclose all pre-existing injuries and diseases which could be affected by the nature of the proposed employment, including the working conditions listed below" and "If you fail to make this disclosure, or your disclosure is false or misleading the Queensland Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 - blah blah blah - could reasonably be aggravated performing the duties of the position they applied for", perhaps made me over-react. Thanks also for your comment Julie - if I come across this pre-employment questionnaire again, I will say "no" as I am an office worker and therefore don't believe any medical conditions I have will be adversely affected by the job requirements. Linda

Tough news on the redundancy. Yes. By law you do not have to disclose anything that is not a current condition. Many HR folk are over zealous. ( kind phrasing). If you do not currently have cancer you don't have to say anything about it. The fact that it might reoccur is irrelevant. 1 in three people get cancer. You are no more of a risk than someone who has never been diagnosed. Good luck with the job hunt. Love. Julie.

Job Applications / Interviews and cancer

Karen_C1
Member
11 years ago
Hi,

I have just gone through Equal Opportunity. I have blogged on this subject.

Given my experience, I would not be overt about your condition at all until you have to. Once you divulge your condition, people will see you differently. You want to be employed on your merits and carry out your job using your skills.

Your condition has nothing to do with it unless you feel its going to impact on your work hours. Even then I would only say you had a chronic condition that required ongoing treatment (but only if you had to).

All the best.

Karen Cowley
yetbeung
Member
11 years ago
That cat is so cute, how anyone could discard a cat in a bin is beyond me! As it happens, l have just entered a competition to win a holiday to Oman, if l win it or the Powerball, l'll let you know! :-) only way l'll be getting there anytime soon!
Janet_Plummer
Member
11 years ago
I agree that there is no need for you to say anything about it. Anyone can get sick with cancer or some other disease at any time. If you're fit and well now and has no impact on your ability to do the job I wouldn't tell them. good luck
SusanF
Member
11 years ago
It's not uncommon to take time away from our workplace for whatever reason. It's great that your fit and well and ready to get back to work. To fill the gap in your resume fill it with "It was time for some travel" or "study" "personal growth and reflection" whatever.... You know if you can physically do the job....they don't know you...shhhhhh
SusanF
Member
11 years ago
It's not uncommon to take time away from our workplace for whatever reason. It's great that your fit and well and ready to get back to work. To fill the gap in your resume fill it with "It was time for some travel" or "study" "personal growth and reflection" whatever.... You know if you can physically do the job....they don't know you...shhhhhh
SusanF
Member
11 years ago
It's not uncommon to take time away from our workplace for whatever reason. It's great that your fit and well and ready to get back to work. To fill the gap in your resume fill it with "It was time for some travel" or "study" "personal growth and reflection" whatever.... You know if you can physically do the job....they don't know you...shhhhhh
dianne_n
Member
11 years ago
I too started looking for work after treatment ended November 2012. I had no savings, had left my casual job (prior to chemo commencing) was on Newstart so technically I was 'supposed' to be looking..... I did have an exemption for a little while but once treatment is over well I didn't really have a choice, Newstart doesn't cover expenses. I was behind in bills so started applying for I thought I could cope with. I started off being upfront and honest in cover letters thinking I could explain IF I got an interview. Had a little luck with temp jobs but 2 years down the track I'm still looking for work.

I don't say anything about cancer or treatment in applications anymore, I find people don't seem to care. They're after the best employee and I think that's really all they care about. Not reading our life story.

I appled for and was accepted for disabilty, at least that has given me a little more time for job search. I've gone back to study and I also volunteer. I have also registered with an agency that helps people (who've have/had health conditions) get back to work.

Best of luck with everything :)
dianne_n
Member
11 years ago
I too started looking for work after treatment ended November 2012. I had no savings, had left my casual job (prior to chemo commencing) was on Newstart so technically I was 'supposed' to be looking..... I did have an exemption for a little while but once treatment is over well I didn't really have a choice, Newstart doesn't cover expenses. I was behind in bills so started applying for I thought I could cope with. I started off being upfront and honest in cover letters thinking I could explain IF I got an interview. Had a little luck with temp jobs but 2 years down the track I'm still looking for work.

I don't say anything about cancer or treatment in applications anymore, I find people don't seem to care. They're after the best employee and I think that's really all they care about. Not reading our life story.

I appled for and was accepted for disabilty, at least that has given me a little more time for job search. I've gone back to study and I also volunteer. I have also registered with an agency that helps people (who've have/had health conditions) get back to work.

Best of luck with everything :)
Merlins_mum
Member
11 years ago
Tough news on the redundancy. Yes. By law you do not have to disclose anything that is not a current condition. Many HR folk are over zealous. ( kind phrasing). If you do not currently have cancer you don't have to say anything about it. The fact that it might reoccur is irrelevant. 1 in three people get cancer. You are no more of a risk than someone who has never been diagnosed. Good luck with the job hunt. Love. Julie.
LInda21
Member
11 years ago
Hi,

I was made redundant a week ago and prior to this had already been applying for jobs and registering at recruitment agencies. One recruitment company sent a pre-employment health questionnaire for white collar employees, which I filled out what I thought was honestly, disclosing my (treated) DCIS and also osteoarthritis. I regret doing this now. Didn't even progress to an interview, yet they were the company that initially contacted me.

The questionnaire was very comprehensive with the medical conditions listed being very long. Makes it very easy to discriminate I think.

The wording "You are required by law to disclose all pre-existing injuries and diseases which could be affected by the nature of the proposed employment, including the working conditions listed below" and "If you fail to make this disclosure, or your disclosure is false or misleading the Queensland Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 - blah blah blah - could reasonably be aggravated performing the duties of the position they applied for", perhaps made me over-react.

Thanks also for your comment Julie - if I come across this pre-employment questionnaire again, I will say "no" as I am an office worker and therefore don't believe any medical conditions I have will be adversely affected by the job requirements.

Linda