A cancer diagnosis touches every part of your life — and work is no exception. Whether you're newly diagnosed, in active treatment, or finding your footing in recovery, maintaining focus and productivity on the job can feel like a real challenge. A recent article in Fast Company offers three strategies worth considering.

1. Don't Be Afraid to Ask for HelpReturning to work — or staying at work during treatment — can be challenging. It's natural to hope that difficult feelings will resolve on their own, but avoiding them often makes things harder in the long run. Whether or not you've disclosed your diagnosis to your employer or colleagues, it's okay to ask for support when you need it. Reaching out is a sign of self-awareness, not weakness.

2. Give Yourself Some GraceStress takes a measurable toll on concentration and memory, and prolonged stress can significantly disrupt your ability to focus and get things done. Mistakes will happen — that's true for everyone, diagnosis or not. When they do, try to address the issue, learn from it, and let it go without falling into a cycle of self-blame. You are doing a lot right now.

3. Tackle Smaller Tasks FirstWhen your energy and bandwidth feel limited, lean into work that is concrete and completable. Save the heavier, more complex projects for days when you have more capacity — and build in extra time when those projects can't wait. Finishing smaller tasks can help you feel accomplished and keep momentum going without burning out.

Staying organized, focusing on one task at a time, and giving yourself permission to rest are all part of the process. A shift in mindset — one that prioritizes your well-being over an all-or-nothing approach to productivity — can make balancing work and cancer a little more manageable. Read more about getting organized here.

If you'd like to strengthen your communication skills and learn how to be more effective — whether on the job or in your job search — join us for our Balancing Work & Cancer Series two-part webinar on Communicating Effectively. Part 1 takes place on Wednesday, July 8th, and Part 2 on Wednesday, August 5th.