POV: After surviving cancer, I had to survive going back to work. I wish there'd be a bit more empathy.

What happens after a person survives cancer?

Life goes on, and so does work. But recovery isn't always straightforward — there may still be follow-ups, check-ups, scans. Medical commitments with no clear end date.

As a two-time cancer survivor, Atiqah (not her real name) shares about the strain of balancing her appointments with her 14-day medical leave entitlement, and how she believes a little empathy will go a long way.

By Atiqah

I'm Atiqah. I am a Singaporean in my 40s.

I work in customer service, and have been in this industry about seven years already.

I was first diagnosed with cancer in 2021.

It was during my annual medical checkup. They found something, so they referred me to the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS).

I did a lumpectomy and also was on medication for a while, tamoxifen (hormone pill used to treat breast cancer).

Physically I was fine. But I was coping with my cancer, as well as a relationship issue. I suffered from depression.

And in 2023, I was diagnosed with breast cancer again. This time it was the other breast.

First time with cancer

The first time I had cancer, I was working at this place. Let's call it Company A.

When I was diagnosed, my bosses were very supportive of me. They would check on me to make sure that I'm all right.

My higher boss even came to ask me if he could do anything for my insurance coverage.

They let me recover as much as I can, told me to stay at home and rest. I felt they really cared about my health.

But I didn't stay on at the company, because they were closing down in Singapore.

After that job, I moved onto another company, which is where I'm working now. We'll call it Company B.

Life post-cancer

After I joined Company B, I was diagnosed with cancer for the second time.

So, same thing as before. I went for a lumpectomy, and continued with tamoxifen.

After I ended my hospitalisation leave (HL), I came back to work.

I am not in remission yet. I am still on hormonal pills. I also have quite a few medical appointments.

I have gynaecologist check-ups, mammograms and ultrasounds, and post-cancer physiotherapy.

For example, recently, I went for an ultrasound. With breast cancer, we have to go for annual checkups. If they find anything suspicious, they will send it for biopsy.

They found I had a suspicious lymph node, so I was sent back to do a biopsy.

After that, there is a doctor's appointment. So that's two more visits. And then, sometimes there is a gynae visit.

Working with cancer

However, my boss has been very rigid with how I take my time off and my medical certificates (MCs).

Because of my working hours, I get some time-off in one-hour increments.

With my previous boss, they would allow me to use the time-off along with my lunch hour, so I could go and see the doctor.

But my current boss doesn't allow it. Once, they commented that I have "so many medical appointments".

So I have to take either accumulated time-off, or MC.

I have 14 days of MC. When I take it in half days, it is just nice enough, as long as I don't fall sick.

As long as there's no additional issues in my life. I cannot have additional problems. I cannot fall ill.

Dealing with it

Every day, I take it one step at a time. From the beginning of the year, I will start planning my MCs.

Nobody counts MCs. But I do. Nearer the end of year, I will check to see if I have enough MCs. How many more checkups do I have to go? Would it be sufficient for me?

I'm really very mentally tired. Of overthinking, of cancer issues. Every time my checkups are getting near, my anxiety is even higher.

I'm actually seeing a counsellor now, for my anxiety.

But for the past two or three years, I have been managing it. So that's a good thing.

On the surface

I think people know that medical appointments are important, but maybe they don't know exactly how bad cancer can be.

Because I can be very smiley. I can have long hair. I can have good food. And I don't look like a cancer patient, or a cancer survivor.

Sometimes I'm really very tired, I cannot think anymore, I just need a rest. But they think I look OK, so they don't really understand how I feel.

I'm in a chat group with some other breast cancer survivors. For some of them, it's not as bad as what I'm facing. Some are even worse.

I have heard of cases where they're sent for disciplinary actions, they have their pay cuts, they're demoted, they have promotions frozen.

A little empathy

My manager feels I need to follow the same entitlement as the rest of the staff. No extras even though I am a cancer survivor still on pills.

I'm not being a Karen. But a little help could really ease my worries and stress.

To the employers out there, I'm sure you have someone in your family that needs care and concern.

Regardless of whether they have cancer or whether they are ill, they're fragile, they're old. They will have to go through this stage.

Many people don't know what we're facing. Maybe it is difficult to understand.

But just a little bit of thought, a little bit of empathy, will help us, and help everybody in the world.