Returning to work after breast cancer

"An occasional small gift can make a very big difference." - Katja Janssens

Cohezio is an external service for prevention and protection at work, based in Brussels. The service monitors the health, safety and well-being of workers in the workplace, as provided for by law. Cohezio consists of a multidisciplinary team including occupational physicians, psychologists, prevention advisors, ergonomists, engineers, etc. The service aims to be the professional partner in the field of promotion and guidance of the well-being of employees, both in the private and public sector.

Katja Janssens, psychosocial manager at Cohezio: "Cohezio supports long-term sick people who wish to return to work, including patients who have had breast cancer. Women confronted with breast cancer usually need to rest first, which is quite understandable," she explains, "Such a cancer diagnosis is a bolt from the blue. Once the treatment is over, they often yearn to return to work. They want their normal life from before as soon as possible or miss contact with colleagues." In such situations, a professional counseling service like Cohezio is a perfect partner to help reintegration go smoothly. "Employers can also come to us for advice," says Katja Janssens. Janssens summarizes the core tasks for good reintegration in the acronym PINK.

PINK from Pink Ribbon

P of Talk - personal - privacy

If an employee or colleague is affected by breast cancer, maintain contact. Let them know you are there. Discuss what may be communicated to colleagues and what may not. "When colleagues know what is going on, you avoid misunderstandings," says Katja Janssens. "An occasional small gift can make a very big difference. A card or a flower can do wonders."

I of Integration /Everyone / Integrity

Are measures needed for work resumption? For example, temporary part-time work, reorganization of the team, discuss this with the affected person's team. "Team members and colleagues are best involved, since work adjustments may also affect them."

N of No / Now

Say no to the taboo surrounding breast cancer. Make it negotiable. Say no also to guard boundaries. Focus on now: build reintegration step by step. Look at current needs first. "The prognosis of breast cancer can change, the impact of treatment can be unexpectedly severe, so the focus should always be on immediate needs."

K of Strength / Ability / Framing

Invest in resilience of the individual and the team. Examine together what is still possible and what is not. Frame the patient and also the team, both during absence and when returning to work. Keep in touch, find out what the cancer patient wants. Does she want contact or would she rather not? "Framing is also in framing. When a breast cancer patient returns to work, organize a welcome back moment. The letter k is the last letter of back, right," laughs Janssens.