Cancer and COVID-19: Learn the Laws That Protect You in the Workplace

Uncertainty still fills the air as the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third surge. Will there be another round of the virus this winter? Or have the months of staying home, social distancing and mask-wearing pushed us to an almost new normal where we can safely dine indoors, get back to the office, gather inside places of worship and throw parties with family and friends?

Cancer survivors already know what it’s like to live a new normal. They’ve done that since diagnosis. To them, social distancing isn’t an unfamiliar burden. It’s what they have always done to keep themselves safe and healthy.

But being that many are immunocompromised from treatment and the disease itself, survivors likely need to take even stronger precautions while navigating a world where COVID-19 is present.

This fall, offices began to reopen, leaving employees unsettled, especially survivors and caregivers. Within these pages, Triage Cancer, a national nonprofit organization that provides education on the practical and legal issues that may affect people diagnosed with cancer, lays out laws created to protect individuals heading back to work. Be prepared, ask questions and know your rights.

Our cover story digs deeper into the psychosocial and physical lasting effects of cancer, from anxiety and depression to infertility and guilt, which some survivors feel for potentially passing the disease onto their children. Five survivors walk us through their lives post-cancer and share how they’re dealing with a survivor state of mind.

A childhood cancer survivor fulfills a lifelong dream to inspire others through the new book “Beyond Remission: Words of Advice for Thriving.” Melody Lomboy-Lowe and her niece spent two years interviewing and photographing survivors from across the country, then editing it to create something to inspire hope in those who need it most. After receiving an acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosis at age 6, Lomboy-Lowe spent years in and out of treatment followed by scans into her adult life. But through it all she has managed to see the beauty in life by focusing on the motto “Don’t waste time.”

Also inside: opioid use in survivors, how COVID-19 affected breast cancer survivors and easy-to-make sweet and savory meals.

We hope you find both practical information and everyday inspiration, and, as always, thank you for reading.

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.