Below are descriptions of the sessions that were offered at the 2018 National Conference on Work & Cancer, on Friday, June 22.

The Doctor’s Perspective (9:00 AM)

What is the role of your physician and extended healthcare team in your ability to work? How do you manage treatment side effects while working? What are some work-friendly treatment options? These and many other questions will be answered in this informative session.

Disclosure, Privacy & Online Brand (9:45 AM)

Do you have to disclose your diagnosis to your employer? Are there laws that protect you in the workplace? We will address all this and more, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), practical ways to protect your privacy and how to manage your “online brand.”

Using Social Media to Tell Your Best Story (11:15 AM)

Social media is a great tool to use to communicate your professional image and experience. This session — which is new this year — will focus on how to develop and maintain a consistent personal “brand” across platforms, to showcase your skills, interests and accomplishments. Open to savvy social media users and newbies alike.

Health Insurance Options (1:15 PM)

Health insurance is an important piece of the employment conversation. This session will provide up-to-date information on existing health insurance options and consumer protections as well as any recent activity related to federal healthcare legislation and how it might affect the cancer community. You’ll learn key things to consider when choosing a new plan, where individual states are in terms of implementing changes, and more.

Body Confidence, Self-Confidence in the Workplace (1:15 PM)

We all know that cancer takes a physical toll on the body, so it’s important to recognize the potential impact those changes can have on a person’s self-confidence and how that can play out in the work environment. This session will address those issues and offer useful ways to maintain or even increase self-confidence while on the job or when returning to work.

Job Search (1:15 PM)

Looking for a new position during or after cancer treatment can seem daunting, but it can be done. Get tips on creating a compelling resume, networking, interviewing effectively (including how to deal with those resume-gap questions) and more.

Managing Long-Term Stress (2:30 PM)

For most people, workplace stress is a given. Add cancer to the mix, and it can become debilitating. This session will help you clarify your priorities and develop useful strategies for balancing your job, family and personal well-being.

Networking: Tips & Techniques for Developing Relationships (2:30 PM)

The old adage “It’s not what you know but who” has never been more true. These days, approximately 85% of jobs are found through networking. Yet for most people the idea of having to network can cause serious stress and discomfort. In this new session, we will discuss tactics for developing and nurturing productive relationships that will benefit you in the job-search process and in life.

Enhancing Your Skills: Prepping for Success (2:30 PM)

Professional skills, hard skills, soft skills, foundational skills — what’s the difference? And why does it matter? For anyone looking to change jobs or careers post-cancer, a key first step is identifying what you can do already and what you need to learn in order to land the role you want. This session will help you make sense of this alphabet soup of skills and how to add to your personal batch to make it even richer.

Occupational Therapy/Vocational Rehab (3:45 PM)

Occupational therapy and vocational rehabilitation services can support the transition of returning to work during/after cancer treatment and enhance the performance of daily job-related tasks. This session will cover OT strategies for improving physical and cognitive functioning and conserving energy, as well as vocational rehab services to help increase work tolerance and satisfaction — particularly for those who are changing jobs.

Working Through Treatment (3:45 PM)

There are many things to consider when working through treatment — from sharing the news of your diagnosis at work to dealing with treatment side effects. this session will arm you with an understanding of how the ADA’s reasonable accommodations option can be your best tool while working through treatment. we will also discuss practical tips and communication strategies, including a technique called “the swivel.”