DeepSummary
In this podcast episode, Sarah McDonald, a two-time cancer survivor and author of the book 'The Cancer Channel,' discusses her journey as a cancer patient and the challenges employees with chronic health issues face in the workplace. She shares her experiences of being diagnosed with a rare form of salivary gland cancer and breast cancer, and the mental and emotional toll it took on her. Sarah highlights the importance of employers being supportive and understanding towards employees going through health crises, and how companies like eBay, where she worked, provided her with the necessary support and flexibility during her treatments.
Sarah also talks about the stigma and shame associated with cancer diagnoses, and how she initially felt embarrassed to share her condition with her colleagues. She emphasizes the need for open communication and empathy from employers and managers when dealing with employees facing health challenges. Sarah further discusses the financial burden of cancer treatments and the difficulties some patients face in affording medical care, which can lead to them making the difficult decision of not pursuing treatment to avoid financial ruin.
The episode also touches upon Sarah's decision to have a child through surrogacy after her cancer treatments, the challenges she faced in her marriage, and her calling to share her story and help others going through similar experiences. Overall, the episode highlights the importance of employers providing a supportive and understanding environment for employees dealing with chronic illnesses and the need for more awareness and compassion in the workplace.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The importance of employers providing a supportive and understanding environment for employees dealing with chronic illnesses or health crises.
- The financial burden and challenges associated with cancer treatments and navigating the insurance system.
- The stigma and shame often felt by cancer patients, and the need for open communication and empathy in the workplace.
- The impact of a cancer diagnosis on personal and professional life, and the resilience required to navigate the journey.
- The value of alternative therapies and practices in supporting mental and emotional well-being during cancer treatment.
- The challenges of balancing work, treatment, and personal life, and the need for flexibility and understanding from employers.
- The importance of sharing personal stories and experiences to raise awareness and support for those going through similar situations.
- The need for healthcare and insurance reforms to address the financial burdens and challenges faced by cancer patients.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I am shocked and dismayed and horrified when I hear of cancer patients who are going through what can be debilitating treatments and they need to keep working or they'll lose their insurance and it will mean financial ruin for their family.“ by Sarah McDonald
- “Because I will tell you, even though I knew in my heart of hearts that I would figure everything out with the insurance company, I had to bring ninja level project management skills in order to argue with the insurance company to cover everything.“ by Sarah McDonald
- “And it's just because it's so confusing because like the doctor's number identification isn't of the procedure that was done doesn't line up with the insurance companies.“ by Sarah McDonald
- “There were times when I would receive insurance bills that were in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.“ by Sarah McDonald
- “I have heard of people who make the decision not to take the medicine, not to take the treatment, and just let the disease run its course because they don't want to financially impact their families.“ by Sarah McDonald
Entities
Company
Person
Book
Episode Information
The Will To Change: Uncovering True Stories of Diversity & Inclusion
Jennifer Brown
10/21/22
This episode features an interview with author Sarah McDonald as she discusses her book The Cancer Channel and her journey as a cancer survivor. Sarah shares the unique challenges that employees with chronic health issues face in the workplace and how employers can best support their workers through health crises. Discover the stigma and shame that individuals often feel when diagnosed with cancer or other health issues, and the difficult challenges of potentially needing to work even while going through debilitating treatments. Sarah also reveals the lessons that she’s learned and what has changed in her life since being diagnosed with cancer.
You can register for the Better Man Conference at https://bettermanconference.com/