Contact magazine: Work & employment

Shane Gunby was diagnosed with a brain tumour aged 15 in 2012, leaving him with several long-term side effects. He explains how this has impacted him in the workplace, and what a difference proper support from employers can make to young people navigating the world of work after cancer.

Sian Brown’s son, George, was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma in April 2019 when seven months old. Here, she explains how she gave up work to care for George and the financial implications of this, and how volunteering work led her back into employment helping other families of children with cancer.

Many parents will feel huge levels of stress as they try to figure out how and if they can continue to work and care for their child through treatment. Andrew Whitehouse, Service Manager at Young Lives vs Cancer, tells us what legal rights you have and how employers can support you.

Olly Liddle was diagnosed with bone cancer as a teenager. Here, he tells us how this has shaped his life, including inspiring a new career as a personal trainer.

During cancer treatment, children and young people (CYP) and their families will meet, and receive care from, a wide range of healthcare professionals. Mostly, these will be their consultants or clinical nurse specialists, but there are many others who will provide wider, and pivotal, support. We hear from three such people about their roles.

Roxanne Lawrance is Chief Executive at Teens Unite Fighting Cancer, a charity that supports teenagers and young adults impacted by a cancer diagnosis. Here, she tells us about some of the ways Teens Unite helps young people who have had cancer gain vital skills, experience and insight to prepare them for searching for and starting employment.

Sam Varnam was diagnosed with neuroblastoma as a teenager in 2017. Now 24, he tells us about how he navigated the challenges of treatment, and the route he took to becoming a police officer.

Christina Harris’ daughter, Skye, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in 2021, aged 10. Having received little support from her employer following Skye’s diagnosis, culminating in her eventually losing her job, she explains why she’s now campaigning for parents with seriously ill children to be legally entitled to a career break while they care for their child.

Nicky Webb is a Clinical Nurse Specialist and a member of CCLG who provides support for the long-term follow-up care of childhood cancer survivors.

A CCLG-funded study to find out why some patients with leukaemia have long-term problems with learning and memory.