What about my financial situation?
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) can have an enormous impact on the life of anyone who gets it. And you may not have been able to cope with working while you were experiencing symptoms. Treatment can also take up quite a lot of time as well as making you feel ill, so it is likely that you will have taken time off work during your cycles of treatment.
However, now that you are in remission with aggressive NHL, you may feel well enough to return to work after treatment has finished.
If you feel you can cope with returning to work, it can be a good idea to try and do so.
It can help you regain a sense of normality in your life, which, along with the support and encouragement of your colleagues, can help you stay positive about your illness. Speak to your employer about how you are feeling and be honest about what you feel you can physically take on during your recovery/remission. Many people are pleasantly surprised at how understanding their employer can be, and work colleagues can also be a good source of support. Depending on your situation, it may be worth exploring shorter working hours or perhaps working from home occasionally.
It is illegal for an employer to treat an employee unfairly or in a discriminatory way because of illness. If this becomes an issue, your healthcare team or family doctor may be able to offer advice about who might be able to help. Advocacy groups and patient organisations can also be a useful source of information.
Am I entitled to any benefits if I have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Many people with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) worry about their financial situation, especially if they find that they are unable to work as normal.
Some patients with NHL are entitled to various benefits, depending on their circumstances. If you are employed, you should speak to the human resources department at work, who may be able to help you with this issue through a company scheme.
However, the issue of possible benefit entitlements is a complicated and ever-changing subject, and good advice is essential.
Although the clinical nurse specialist, specialist doctor or family doctor will probably not be able to help you directly, they might be able to advise on where to go for information.
You can probably also get relevant and up-to-date advice from your local support groups.