Research conducted last year by the NFK (Dutch Federation of Cancer Patient Organizations) among 3,700 (former) cancer patients revealed that a large percentage of (former) patients experience a low level of understanding at work when it comes to the "late consequences of (the treatment of) cancer. Colleagues and supervisors often know little or nothing about the late effects of cancer. And this can lead to misunderstanding from the (work) environment. Many (former) cancer patients have to deal with well-meaning but painful remarks such as; "But you're better again, aren't you?

What are late effects of (the treatment of) cancer? Some of the effects of cancer are immediately noticeable and go away over time. Others do not become noticeable until years later and are long-term in nature; these are the "late effects. As many as 65% of people who have had cancer experience these late effects. There are different types of late effects. At first you may think of the physical consequences, such as fatigue. But cancer often has just as many psychological, social and societal consequences. The most common "late consequences" that affect work are: fatigue, decreased physical fitness, concentration and . memory problems and nerve pain.

The consultants at Puls assist many different types of people with various types of disabilities within 2nd track , including people who are (or have been) affected by cancer. Each disability and especially each person requires a different approach. Together we look for work that is more appropriate than the work someone was doing before he or she dropped out. Often it is not yet clear whether one's own work can be fully picked up again. And even if it is clear that one's own work is no longer feasible, it sometimes takes a while before someone can join in the search for other work and become enthusiastic about it. This has to do with acceptance and also depends on whether support is experienced in the immediate environment and whether the disability is taken into account. Acceptance and understanding from the environment are the basic conditions for someone to take control of his/her career (again); to be open to new possibilities and to say goodbye to impossibilities. Understanding of one's situation and knowledge of one's limitations is often the first step in guiding someone through the acceptance process. People who are diagnosed with cancer often go through a difficult and eventful period of their lives. The disease has a major impact on a person's outlook on life, treatments are tough and the impact on those around them is often great. Employers sometimes struggle to deal with this properly. And the moment an employee has had successful treatment and is thus sometimes declared healthy again, it seems as if everything is back to normal, however, there is often no consideration of the "late consequences" of (the treatment) of cancer.

A 2nd track trajectory often starts just when someone has completed treatment, and has or has not been declared cured. Someone is often rebuilding in their own work, but it is not going very well and for a long time they wonder whether their own work will be suitable again. The late consequences and complaints that come with this, the uncertainty and often also the processing of the drastic time that lies behind them, make that a positive view on the return to own work and/or the full dedication to find other work that is more appropriate, is often still far away. Through the personal and goal-oriented approach of its consultants, Puls has been able to do a lot for these employees.

As an employer, would you like to read more about work and (late effects of) cancer:

https://kankerenwerk.nl/werkgever-en-kanker/late-gevolgen-kanker-en-werk/

And for workers:

 https://kankerenwerk.nl/werknemerwerkzoekend-en-kanker/invloed-van-late-gevolgen/