• At Work
  • Looking for Work
  • Employers
  • Healthcare Professionals

  • Events
  • Newsfeed
  • Take Action
  • About Us
  1. Login
  2. Donate
  3. Ask a career coach
  4. Collective diary
  5. Resources
  6. Free Publications

    Order or Download

  7. Educational Videos

    View All

  • Go Back
  • Introduction

  • Where to Start

  • Legal   Financial

  • Working Remotely

  • Back to Work

  • Coworkers

  • Caregivers

  • Early Career

  1. Login
  2. Donate
  3. Ask a career coach
  4. Collective diary
  5. Resources
  6. Free Publications

    Order or Download

  7. Educational Videos

    View All

  • Go Back
  • Introduction

  • Managers

  • Human Resources

  1. Login
  2. Donate
  3. Ask a career coach
  4. Collective diary
  5. Resources
  6. Free Publications

    Order or Download

  7. Educational Videos

    View All

  • Go Back
  • Introduction

  • Job Search & Disclosure
  • Your Online Footprint

  • Networking

  • Resume & Cover Letter

  • Resume Review Service

  • Interviewing

  • Exploring Your Options

  • Early Career

  1. Login
  2. Donate
  3. Ask a career coach
  4. Collective diary
  5. Resources
  6. Free Publications

    Order or Download

  7. Educational Videos

    View All

  • Go Back
  • Upcoming Events

  • National Conference

  • Balancing Work & Cancer Webinars

  • Midwest Conference
  • West Coast Conference
  • In-Service Training

  • Balancing Work & Cancer Workshops

  • Job-Search Intensive

  1. Login
  2. Donate
  3. Ask a career coach
  4. Collective diary
  5. Resources
  6. Free Publications

    Order or Download

  7. Educational Videos

    View All

  • Go Back
  • Introduction

  • News

  • Blog

  • Research

  • Newsletter

  1. Login
  2. Donate
  3. Ask a career coach
  4. Collective diary
  5. Resources
  6. Free Publications

    Order or Download

  7. Educational Videos

    View All

  • Go Back
  • Introduction

  • Donate

  • Sponsorship

  • Advocate/Become an Ambassador

  • Shop for a Cause

  • Beauty Editor's Closet Sale

  • Beauty of Giving Luncheon

  • Beauty with Benefits

  • Young Professionals Committee

  • Other Ways to Help

  1. Login
  2. Donate
  3. Ask a career coach
  4. Collective diary
  5. Resources
  6. Free Publications

    Order or Download

  7. Educational Videos

    View All

  • Go Back
  • Introduction

  • The Issue

  • Our Impact

  • Supporters

  • History

  • Transparency

  • Board of Governors

  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

  • Staff

  • Contact Us

  1. Login
  2. Donate
  3. Ask a career coach
  4. Collective diary
  5. Resources
  6. Free Publications

    Order or Download

  7. Educational Videos

    View All

ES
Cancer and Careers Logo
  • SEARCH
    • My Favorites (0)
    • Create an Account
    • Sign In
  • En Español
  • Donate

    Menu

    Close

  • At Work
    • Where to Start
    • Legal & Financial
    • Back to Work
    • Working Remotely
    • Coworkers
    • Caregivers
    • Early Career
    Ask a career coach
    Collective diary
    Resources
    Free Publications Order or Download
    Educational Videos View All
  • Looking for Work
    • Job Search & Disclosure
    • Your Online Footprint
    • Networking
    • Resume & Cover Letter
    • Resume Review Service
    • Interviewing
    • Exploring Your Options
    • Early Career
    Ask a career coach
    Collective diary
    Resources
    Free Publications Order or Download
    Educational Videos View All
  • Employers
    • Managers
    • Human Resources
    Ask a career coach
    Collective diary
    Resources
    Free Publications Order or Download
    Educational Videos View All
  • Healthcare Professionals
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • National Conference
    • Balancing Work & Cancer Webinars
    • Midwest Conference
    • West Coast Conference
    • In-Service Training for Healthcare Professionals
    • Balancing Work & Cancer Workshops
    • Job-Search Intensive
    Ask a career coach
    Collective diary
    Resources
    Free Publications Order or Download
    Educational Videos View All
  • Newsfeed
    • News
    • Blog
    • Research
    • Newsletter
    Ask a career coach
    Collective diary
    Resources
    Free Publications Order or Download
    Educational Videos View All
  • Take Action
    • Donate
    • Sponsorship
    • Advocate/Become an Ambassador
    • Shop for a Cause
    • Beauty Editor's Closet Sale
    • Beauty of Giving Luncheon
    • Beauty with Benefits
    • Young Professionals Committee
    • Other Ways to Help
    Ask a career coach
    Collective diary
    Resources
    Free Publications Order or Download
    Educational Videos View All
  • About Us
    • The Issue
    • Our Impact
    • Supporters
    • History
    • Transparency
    • Board of Governors
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
    • Staff
    • Contact Us
    Ask a career coach
    Collective diary
    Resources
    Free Publications Order or Download
    Educational Videos View All

Home > Ask A Career Coach > During interview a question of cancer arises

ADD TO THE DISCUSSION

Please sign in to ask your question or

Create an Account

DISCUSSION TOPICS

Career Change
Career Management
Image/Professionalism
Interviewing
Job Search
Resume Building and Writing
Work/Life/Cancer Balance
Workplace Politics

meet the career coaches

Image of Bud Bilanich
Bud Bilanich

a career success coach, leadership consultant, motivational speaker, bestselling author, influential blogger and cancer survivor...

Image of Adam Goldberg
Adam Goldberg

Human Resources

Image of Brandon Gottlieb
Brandon Gottlieb

20 years in the talent acquisition industry

Image of Julie Jansen
Julie Jansen

Motivational speaker, career and executive coach, trainer...

Image of Rosalind Joffe
Rosalind Joffe

A recognized national expert on chronic illness and...

Image of Arona Roshal
Arona Roshal

Creative Life and Career Coach

During interview a question of cancer arises

Kyle S. on March 2, 2022

Career Change, Interviewing

I am at the final stages of an interview process that has lasted 10 weeks. I will be getting a salary offer this week. Today I found out I need a biopsy for possible cancer. I have been in remission from breast cancer 4 years. How should I handle this? Should I disclose?



2 Comments

Image of Nicole Jarvis, LMSW

Nicole Jarvis, LMSW

Mar 2, 2022

Cancer and Careers Staff Comment:

Hello Kyle,


 


Thanks for reaching out to Cancer and Careers. Congratulations on making it through what sounds like quite the lengthy interview process! When it comes to disclosure, especially before starting a job, it’s a good idea to share only necessary details and information. In your case, it sounds like there are some unknowns at the moment, so it’s best not to delve into what if’s if they in fact turn out to change. Disclosure is always a personal decision and there is no right or wrong answer, rather, its about assessing your situation, what you know, and what you believe the benefit is to sharing the information.


I can imagine that you may be feeling anxious and uncertain about the biopsy, which is totally understandable. But the fact is, you don’t know what’s going to happen, so it’s best to not share information, or even make a decision around what to share, until you have a clearer picture. If you are concerned about needing time off, or the biopsy is set to occur right when you are supposed to start work, perhaps a later start date could be part of your negotiations. This could give you the time for the biopsy and any additional planning that may follow. Since the interview process itself has taken nearly three months, I would imagine they’re not rushing anything so a later start date could be a totally reasonable request.


Here are a few resources on disclosure than may help put sharing the information into perspective and assist you in making a decision around your specific circumstance:



  • Our article on Managing Disclosure When Looking for a Job

  • The recordings of our Disclosure, Privacy & Online Brand and Communicating Effectively webinars

  • Our blog post on Disclosure in the Workplace: When is it Appropriate?

  • Though you may not need them, it’s always a good idea to understand the laws that can provide protection in the workplace – for a general overview, take a look at our article on Your Legal Rights in the Workplace: Cancer and the ADA, FMLA, Etc.


 If you’re still feeling unsure and would like to speak further, please feel free to reach out to cancerandcareers@cew.org to schedule a time to speak with one of our staff. Best of luck with everything and I do hope the new job comes to fruition and you’re able to get the support you are looking for.


 


Warm regards,


Nicole


 


Nicole Jarvis, LMSW (she, her, hers)


Assistant Director of Programs


Cancer and Careers


Image of J Torres J.

J Torres J.

Feb 21, 2023

Thanks for this


post a comment

Please sign in to post a comment

NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

Sign up to receive the most up-to-date information and resources.

FOLLOW US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Videos
eTrust Privacy Certificate logo © 2025 Cosmetic Executive Women Foundation/Cancer and Careers. All Rights Reserved.