Survivors In Healthcare

Life on Pause

The cancer experience can be challenging, painful, and even traumatic. Still, there are healthcare professionals who have experienced cancer themselves and make it their mission to help other patients overcome their health battles. So what makes someone want to work in the healthcare field after surviving cancer, and in what ways does their own past health experience affect their professions?

Today's episode of Life On Pause is about the experience of being both a cancer survivor and a health care worker. These individuals choose to care for patients despite their own complex past health issues and cancer treatments. But in this work, they gain the opportunity to help others and provide first-hand insights from their health journeys. Listen to this episode as four speakers discuss their thoughts on working in healthcare as cancer survivors.

Listen to former cancer patients speak about their experiences as healthcare professionals:

Introductions (00:30)

To begin this episode of Life On Pause, our guest speakers introduce themselves and provide listeners with a bit of background about their experiences with their cancer diagnosis and their current profession in the healthcare field. Our episode features four speakers, including Abby, Ali, Corene, and Kasara, who have taken the time to discuss their experiences as cancer patients in healthcare professions.

Careers in Healthcare (1:43)

There are many reasons for deciding to pursue a career in the healthcare sector, which can be influenced by past experiences interacting with healthcare professionals as a patient. Host Ali asks our guest speakers whether their cancer diagnosis influenced their decisions to go into the healthcare field and what led them to choose their healthcare careers.

How Cancer Impacted Your Profession (8:58)

A cancer diagnosis can significantly impact people's lives, and their cancer journey often leaves them with lasting insights and lessons gained throughout their experience. Our speakers discuss whether they believe that their past experiences with cancer positively affected their ability to perform as healthcare professionals.

Fulfillment and Making a Difference (13:59)

As former patients, our guest speakers share their thoughts on whether they find their healthcare professions to bring them a sense of personal fulfillment after having had their own cancer histories. Our speakers discuss whether their experiences with a cancer diagnosis make their career feel more or less empowering.

Disclosing Your Cancer History at Work (19:14)

One's medical history is a personal aspect of their life, and people often choose not to disclose details about their medical past in their work settings. But having careers in the healthcare field, our speakers discuss whether they have had experiences discussing their cancer histories with coworkers, patients, or other people in the workplace.

Managing Work Trauma Triggers (23:45)

Experiencing a cancer diagnosis and treatments can be emotionally challenging. But working in the healthcare field can bring up many reminders of this time. Our guests speak about their thoughts on coming into contact with cancer reminders and triggers in their healthcare professions.

Helping Others Understand (28:54)

As individuals who have experienced cancer, our guests have personal insights into the cancer experience, unlike other health care professionals who may not have experienced a chronic illness or a severe health problem first-hand. Together, they share the wisdom they would like to provide other healthcare workers they gained throughout the cancer journey.