During life’s many challenges, it is in the moments of vulnerability that make people truly discover their resilience and strength. In the following conversation, Maria Doria, Director of the Clinical Service Center – South America (Workplace Options), speaks with Christina Augsburger, Member of the leadership team at PSA, about her journey as a cancer survivor. Christine’s story reflects the deeply emotional, psychological, as well as physically challenging journey that accompanies a cancer diagnosis.

Maria Doria, Service Center Director, South America (WPO)

Christina Augsburger, Member of the leadership team at PSA

Maria: It’s an honor to have you here with us. We are going to talk about a very special topic; how organizations can better support employees returning to work after cancer treatment. This is a very special topic, and you are a very special person to speak about it. We know that cancer in the life of someone is a big change – both for those diagnosed, but also for their loved ones, and is not solely a physical condition. But one that reshapes the cognitive, emotional, social, and even spiritual dimension of a person. And Chris, you are a cancer survivor. You had cancer 11 years ago. I really appreciate your willingness and your generosity to tell us your story here today. Could you start by telling us how your life changed after discovering you had cancer?

Christine: Well, Maria, the day they told me that I had breast cancer felt like a bomb exploded in the middle of my house and it totally affected me of course, and as you said, my loved ones, all my personal friends, and my work relationship. In that moment, I became even more aware of the importance of enjoying little things in life. And of course, I continue being mindful of my self-care, my nutrition, my physical health. And today I would also add much more on an emotional level as well. During the process, as you said, I felt I lost my cognitive functioning. I couldn’t focus much of the time. I even noticed I couldn’t add without a calculator until almost a year had passed. So, one of the things that changed as well in my life, something that stayed in my mind, which is that all of us oncology patients will be oncology patients forever.

Maria: Yes, you very well described the impact that you’ve had when you were diagnosed – the impact on you as a woman and also as a mother, in your family, and professionally as well. So indeed, people react differently when faced with this situation. And you were telling me when we were chatting before that you decided to actually speak about it. Some people don’t want to speak about their situation at all. Others have the need to communicate in a transparent way. And you were telling me that’s the path that you chose in your case. Can you tell us a little bit more about how you managed that?

Christine: Yes, in the first instance I had to tell my mom, my family. My sister was a great support because she was the bridge of communication between me and my ex-husband, and between me and my girl’s school for example. They were 10, 15 and 18 years old at the time. My older daughters understood what was happening. For my youngest daughter I had to communicate with her in another way as I didn’t want to frighten her from the beginning.

In my work, I wanted to express myself directly with my colleagues. So, I said it directly to them a few days before I had the operation. I wanted that because I didn’t want everybody speaking behind my back, assuming things, and imagining things that were not real. I wanted communication to come directly from me with them. When I told them they were really supportive, and I was really surprised and thankful that happened from that moment I joined them all together to say it on my own.

Then of course, the other thing that I did that I think was a clever idea I had in that moment, I asked everybody–my family, friends, colleagues, everybody to send me e-mails and not messages through my cell phone because I had my three daughters and I didn’t want to break apart and start crying whenever I saw nice messages on my phone. So, what I did is I asked everybody to send the messages through my e-mail. So, then I could decide when I could control my emotions or when I was on my own. Of course, all the messages were very nice, encouraging, and supportive, which I really treasure very much to this day. But I decided when I could stop and dedicate myself to reading the messages and cry if I needed to in that moment.

Another thing that I did was to accept the help that the people wanted to give me. Many people when they see somebody who’s ill they want to offer you help. And sometimes, the person who’s sick or going through all these circumstances would normally say “No, I don’t need anything.” But what I did is like if they offered me help, I gave them something to do. They really felt useful. And it was a really good thing for me as well. It could’ve been anything like bringing something to eat or fixing a pair of shoes or anything that I needed. It’s really nice to give these things to other people to do. They feel useful, and for me it was very good as well.

Maria: How lovely, Christine. We know it’s so much harder to accept help than to give help isn’t it. So to have that awareness to ask for help is so important. And you are also allowing others to participate. Also, this clever idea of yours of communicating the news, being transparent with everyone because rumors can be quite damaging.
And you also told us about the way you controlled the time when you received those messages so you could be in a safe space to read all those messages. These are really good tips to anyone that is going through these circumstances at the moment. You talked about the support you felt from your colleagues, and my next question is what do you believe are the most meaningful forms of support a person can receive, specifically from the workplace in a situation like this?

Christine: Of course for me it was and still is a very important part which is the support of the manager and the people who work with you, and as I said my network.

My network was really strong and also very important. Covering the specific emotional needs of the patient as soon as clinical suspicion arises is very important. Sometimes a patient doesn’t say they need it in the moment, but I think as soon as a company detects that something is going on with that employee, or as soon as the company becomes aware something is happening with the employee is to provide them with support during that process. And I think it’s very important also to extend that support to the families, because sometimes the family simply doesn’t know how to react. In my situation, I was supported by a foundation that called me and provided that support for me. So, any support that comes directly from your workplace, I think is very, very valuable and very, very needed by that patient, their family, their friends. Because like I said when I found out about my diagnosis it felt like a bomb that exploded in my life. A cancer diagnosis is like a great tsunami that you have to navigate. So, emotional support is very, very important for all the patients.

Maria: Yes, and the keyword that you said already several times is process–how you said, “I am cancer survivor for 11 years but I’m still in this process.” And you were telling me that although you were medically discharged and allowed to return to work after treatment, recovery doesn’t really end with return to work, right?

Christine: No. It is, as I said, something that continues. It is something that affects you a lot psychologically. As we were chatting the other day, I got really optimistic about all my medical checks, my blood tests, and follow-up exams. But it’s sort of completely inevitable to feel emotional and let go once I see that the results are okay. Also, the process is something that you start, and you don’t know when it finishes. Even after I finished my cancer treatment, I felt dizzy for around two years, and I really didn’t know what was happening. I went through many tests and unpleasant medical treatments until I finally discovered that it was due to being overwhelmed, too much stress, and unresolved emotional situation. I thought I had a medical issue that wasn’t really there.

When you get back to work, it’s not like you broke your leg or had the flu and then you have so many days to recover and it’s over. Cancer is something that will stay with you all your life. Every medical exam that I have to do again and again. It’s something that stays with you and your family.

Maria: Yes, it is a life-changing illness that persists and is always there. And this is exactly why it’s so important, so crucial, for organizations to create this culture of support in long term cancer recovery. And this is exactly why we at Workplace Options launched a new program called Return to Work: Cancer Care Compass this year. This program provides support from specialized occupational reintegration coordinators that act as mediators between the employee and all the stakeholders involved during the recovery. I’m thinking about family members, workplace managers, colleagues, as well as the medical team or other occupational specialists involved. Our CEO Alan King has said cancer recovery isn’t just about surviving, but it’s about thriving. And I think that is what’s at the heart of this program which is to help organizations create that culture of support for employees with cancer. Christine, my last question here is what was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself during your cancer journey?

Christine: Well Maria, thank you so much for that question. This question makes me think of the essence and the most important things in life because most of the time the urgent issues in life often make you forget about them. So really, I learned that I was the one who must take care of my physical and clinical health, and I incorporated the emotional aspect with more intensity through meditation, external support, and different mentors, different courses, and other types of support. And I noticed that if I am well then not only am I taking care of myself, but also my environment and my relationships will be much better. I learned to accept, as we were saying a while ago, help and ask for it, even if I am struggling with it. It’s not easy for me to ask for help, but yes, I learned to accept help when they offered it to me.

I also learned that we don’t know how much time we will live in this world. So, I even enjoyed little things much more than before, and I also celebrated achievements more intensely. It also moves me deeply to see my daughters develop, to see them graduate. Seeing my old daughter getting married last year was very special. I know these are very special and unforgettable moments for all parents, but I feel that I live these special moments even more intensely. And I am thankful because life gave me this enormous opportunity of being able to celebrate each and every one of these moments with them. I also learned that cancer was not just a physical battle, but also an extremely intense emotional battle and I must take care of myself in both areas.

So, thank you, Maria, for this opportunity to share my experience, my thoughts, and my feelings.

Maria: Christine, it’s really such an honor to have you with us at this moment. Your story is so inspirational as a cancer survivor to everyone. I also know that you helped many people in this situation, and you continue to do that. So, thank you again.

Christine: Thank you, Maria again, and thank you for your great job. I know you’re going to help a lot of cancer patients with this, so thank you.

Maria: This is our mission at Workplace Options. We want to help people, and I invite all the managers to check out our new program Return to Work: Cancer Care Compass this year. Thank you.