THEReturning to work after being diagnosed with breast cancer it is crucial in the path of care. The women who responded to the Euromedia Research survey for Europe Woman Italy. 3 out of four out of a representative sample of all of society fear getting cancer. And one out of 3 fears that they no longer know how to do their job. For 47 percent of breast cancer patients, returning to work coincided with a demotion. Accepted as inevitable by half of women.
At work after cancer: opportunity or nightmare?
More than half of the women questioned by Euromedia Research consider that if they were to fall seriously ill returning to work would be a stimulus to recover normality. One in three between women who I am or they have been under treatment for a tumor they believe that work is one of the areas in which the disease has had the greatest impact. There are behind these numbers women’s fears of being pitied, of being isolated, of feeling uncomfortable returning from breast cancer.
The TransformAction project
The president of Europa Donna Italia, Rosanna D’Antona.
Europa Donna Italia with the collaboration of Euromedia Research, Human Age Institute FoundationManpower and labor law firm Fava & Associati has created the TransformAzione project, a approach path to the world of work dedicated to women who wish to return after the oncological disease. One wayalso of regain an active role in society. “It is clear how much work can help in the therapeutic process” underlines Rosanna D’Antona, president of Europa Donna Italia. «On the one hand, it helps to rediscover a state of sociability, thus limiting the tendency towards isolation. On the other it can be one extra stimulus for adherence to therapies and increased self-esteem».
What is the project about?
The project will start systematically in 2023after a pilot phase in which they joined 62 women of the 100 involved. Coming from all over Italy, they were approached by Europa Donna Italia.
Stefania Grea head of the Human Age Institute Foundation.
He explains Stefania Grea, general secretary of the Human Age Institute Foundation: «The first step of the program was to participate in our Talent Lab whose objective is the work motivation of the people involved. We have supported them in the elaboration of the experience of the disease, from the diagnosis that has upset everything to the various therapeutic steps. And in the acquisition of new professional skills. By metabolizing the trauma of the disease, becoming aware of the new skills acquired, one is ready to embrace the return to work as new people».
Back to work: a new phase
The path involved in several online sessionsover the course of two months, two subgroups about 30 people. A part of the project concerned the story of himself, from the diagnosis onwards. and fears and expectations related to returning to work. With the support of specialized psychologists in the accompaniment of cancer patients. The target? Strengthen a positive self-image in women, which highlights the strength and skills acquired through the disease. The goal: see themselves no longer only as patients paid to workfearful of revealing the fragility of a still precarious condition. But as workers aware of their new skills» explains Grea.
The ABC’s of job hunting
“So we focused on moments of training with labor consultants from Human Age Institute Foundation, Manpower e on new trends of the world of work. It was the writing of the CV And how to present yourself for interviews. The workshop participants received information on rights and duties of workers and on legislation for protected categories.
These meetings were held in groups, but women have also been given the opportunity to access individual meetings. At the end of the process to the women involved concrete proposals have been made for a return to work.
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