In our overly negative society, people most often view cancer fighters, and survivors, with a suspicious bent at work. They question the future--will that person be out a lot, will they get sick during a big project, will they miss a lot of work for treatments, can I depend on them? On and on. Flat out, there's a standing prejudice in the workplace against cancer victims.
But if folks would actually stop and look at the issue, and the person's situation, they'd see that fighters are a superb candidate for overachieving. Face it, anyone who can continue working when faced with mortality and the ongoing difficulties of treatment is one tough individual, and most often tougher than their peers. And highly motivated.
Cancer fighters want to live as 'normally' as before diagnosis and remain valuable, needed, wanted, and successful. The illness is a distraction but does not define the person--or shouldn't. That means they remain committed, even more so, to moving on and living fully. Sure, their perspective is changed and life balance is important, but the fighter is just that--a fighter. And all companies would benefit from embracing that truth and promoting the battle tested individual to lead in other assaults.
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