I’ve had some emails about my last post in which I referred to cancer as a chronic illness. The gist of these emails was that some people think that cancer gets “too much attention” both in funding and in the press.
Now that might not be a politically correct statement and some might even say it sounds mean spirited.  It’s an easy mindset to fall into (I have a hunch that’s why those people emailed me rather than post their comments on the site).   When you live with with chronic health problems that wear you down, it’s very easy to find that you resent and even feel angry about what you’re not getting.  And the fact is that for most who live with chronic illness (the largest category of chronic illness being autoimmune disease), there is little interest or patience for their health problems.
There’s nowhere that this is more true than in a person’s job.  No matter how you look at it, we’re a silent lot.   Employees with chronic illness are not a lobbying group.  We don’t have a voice and we’re overlooked when employers are budgetting or creating strategies for their workforce needs.
It doesn’t matter whether you live with a recurring and disabling symptom or symptoms … or have only had one bad time with it. Knowing that it can return can haunt you and certainly play a big part in your thinking.  Yup, cancer gets a lot of attention.  Let’s face it, it seems like it’s everywhere.   And,  research has given us treatments that keep many people going for a long time.  But I think that those of us (and we are many) who live with any type of chronic illness have to capitalize on whatever discussion comes up and use it to advocate for ourselves. That’s the only way we’re going to get heard.
Unfortunately, employers (and politicians and most of the people I know) only pay attention to the most recent event.  That’s called being reactive, isn’t it?   Which is why the issue of chronic illness as a workplace problem isn’t on anyone’s radar. And, those who do experience it as the most recent event  don’t bring it up because few understand it.   So, we’re afraid to talk about it.

But, it needs to be a topic on the table — so we that don’t have to hide it — so that we can , ” keep working, girlfriend.”  and deliver our very best.   Ahh, that day will come.

Amen.
Rosalind