A．As your supervisors and colleagues at work have different responsibilities and positions in managing you and your work, explain your situation to them separately.

Your supervisors at work are responsible for managing your work as well as matters concerning your health management. Hence, they have to accurately capture your health condition, and look at the big picture and make adjustments to ensure that the work is accomplished smoothly.

For this reason, it is advisable to tell them the truth about your health condition frankly, such as the condition of your illness based on what you have heard from your doctor, future schedule for outpatient visits and checkups, and your current state of physical strength. Telling your supervisors the truth would probably make them receptive to consultations about taking leave, working for shorter hours, and making adjustments to the contents of your work. However, as there are also matters that your supervisors have to consider carefully and resolve, take time to have a serious and earnest talk with them.

Your colleagues at work are your partners who work together with you, so you would want to maintain a good relationship with them. Hence, once you have decided to return to work, apologize to your colleagues for having caused them trouble for your long break away from work, and thank them sincerely when they extend their regards and well wishes to you. Also talk about your health condition, such as the current state of your physical strength, explain that you wish to continue with this rewarding job even though it will take time before you are able to work full-time as you did before, and ask for their cooperation.

With regard to the condition of your illness, if you have sorted out your feelings, it would be a good idea to talk about it candidly. However, if you have not yet sorted out your feelings, it is also fine to speak vaguely about it. For example, how about using this explanation?—“I went through gastric surgery, but have been told that it takes time to recover. I have been instructed by my doctor to return to my work step by step at a comfortable pace, so I have to do my work while monitoring my physical condition. However, as I find this job very rewarding, I would definitely like to continue doing it. I am sorry for the inconvenience I will cause you all for a short time, but I appreciate your kind understanding.”

If there is a health clinic with a doctor, public health nurse, or nurses at your workplace, also explain the condition of your illness to these people. In addition to offering you advice about your health, they will also provide advice to your supervisors from a professional perspective. They should be your strong allies at the workplace.

To video of workshop “What to do in the workplace after returning to work” (YouTube)

To video of workshop “Current situation and challenges in health management for cancer patients at the workplace” (YouTube)