“In the car on the way to the hospital I ran into all sorts of scenarios: from an operation to cut the lump, a mastectomy, breast cancer. The latter would be the worst case scenario,” Jorieke says. Her mother died of cancer when Jorieke was 14. Other family members also died of cancer.
Unfortunately, the worst case scenario turned out to be true. “I walked into the surgeon’s room and he immediately said, ‘The results show you have breast cancer.’ I sat in my chair for a second, he himself was still standing. Later a nurse asked me if I wanted to have children, because chemotherapy can make you sterile. I was in shock. How to turn off a lamp switch: complete noise in my head and body “.
‘Every day in the hospital’
Jorieke is found to be a carrier of the BRCA1 gene and has a hereditary predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer. All kinds of investigations were urgent. A treatment plan was drawn up in which a fertility program was initiated immediately and the first course of chemotherapy began a few weeks later.
“When I look back six months ago, it went by confusingly, a roller coaster of emotions. Where I used to go to work every day, I was now suddenly in the hospital every day.”
“We will solve it here”
After the results, he immediately called his colleagues. He responded very sympathetically. “My colleagues said: we will solve it here, just do what you need now.” Above all, she needed space to process the message and tell it to friends and family. And the time, for all the investigations and the trajectory that started immediately.
Her employer, the implementation organization Werk en Inkomen Lekstroom, left her alone for a while. “There were phone calls, but above all they asked me what I needed. The peace they gave me absolutely helped me in that first intense and uncertain phase.
Jorieke is a working coach at the municipality of Houten. Guide people on social assistance to find a job if possible. First he did the work on a detached basis for a few months. After eight months, she was given a one-year contract, which expires in November.
“I didn’t expect my contract to be converted to a permanent contract. Not while I’m still that sick,” says Jorieke. “My treatment will take some time. I really appreciate the fact that my employer dares to give me a permanent contract.”
Stress about money lessens
Not only is it a token of appreciation that he is doing a good job, but it removes an incredible amount of stress. “I am alone and I live in a rented house. My fixed costs are quite high, I have a car. I can afford it with my job, but if I get sick and have to hand over part of my salary, then it will be very tight.”
He also didn’t want to lose his job. “When I hope to start reintegrating soon, it’s nice to be able to do it with colleagues who know my situation, who are involved and who understand. I have to learn new things, how to define my boundaries. It’s easy with the people I feel comfortable with. . “
Jorieke stared at the letter that said “indefinitely” for a long time. “It gives such a boost. I also believe it has a positive effect on my healing process. It takes a lot of stress away. I can stay at my house, with my friends around, and my income will stay the same for the foreseeable future. Soon I will be able to focus on. my recovery, without stress for work “.
‘Work is part of your identity’
“Jorieke’s story is very positive and she makes a great employer. It’s not something that many other cancer patients experience,” says Dr Margot Joosen of Tilburg University. At Tranzo, a scientific center for care and well-being, you have conducted and supervised several studies on cancer and on work.
“Work is an important part of our life. Not only to earn money, we also derive our self-esteem from it. It is a place where you develop, it is part of your identity,” says Joosen. When you are sick, you suddenly lose a lot: health, hobbies, sports. “It’s your job. For a moment you’re just ‘that patient’. At some point it’s nice to shift your focus again and – on your terms – go back to work.”
According to Joosen, the role of the employer is extremely important in this respect. “Many employers respond after someone is told they have cancer with ‘stay home’ and then they say no more. That may be nice, but it’s even better if they ask: What do you think you need from us? need?”
“We see employers filling a lot for the sick employee,” Joosen says. “Although most of the patients who are doing well also draw energy from working in a good team and feel appreciated again.”
Lots of extra costs
According to Joosen, cancer patients regularly lose their jobs and the self-employed lose clients if they have cancer. “While a lot of stress is saved if finances remain the same. 20% of cancer patients will have financial difficulties. Treatment is then reimbursed, but there are often higher travel and accommodation costs or energy costs because heating is higher. . “
According to Joosen, work during or after illness is not only important for self-esteem, but also for money. “I would like to say to employers: look at what is important to an employee with cancer and make him feel listened to and recognized. So you have an employee who is motivated and enjoys going to work.”
