Cancer: “There is not always work stoppage, it depends on several parameters”

Why Doctor: When you have cancer, it often seems difficult to continue working. What do you think ?

Professor Jean-Claude Pairon : In fact it depends on several parameters. 1^er : the type of cancer and treatments. In the initial phase, there is generally active treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy), and as a result there is often fatigue and therefore a cessation of professional activities, but not always. The 2^th parameter is the type of profession which means that some people have particular physical constraints. And the 3^th, it is the patient’s wish, in particular to resume their activity more or less quickly when there is a break. In addition, there is an improvement in the prognosis of many cancers which allows a rapid return to work.

Is dismissal possible because you have cancer?

The medical reason “cancer” cannot be a reason for dismissal. Medical fitness, or incapacity, is declared only upon return to work and by the occupational physician.

If the person has to stop working, do you advise them to stay in contact with their colleagues and their employer?

Again, it depends on the patient’s choice. It is difficult to give instructions in this context because it depends on your work environment, the relationship with your colleagues, your seniority in the company. The attitude cannot be unambiguous. It’s really the patient’s choice to explain why they are being stopped. There is no obligation. It is true that this can allow us to have (and this is generally the case) a certain understanding and kind support.

In what cases can or should a sick person contact the occupational physician?

The person can always contact the occupational doctor who is bound by medical confidentiality. So he will never give the diagnosis to the employer. The occupational physician is the one who will plan a workstation adjustment, and if the patient agrees, discuss with the attending physician or specialist to consider a return at a certain time. The occupational doctor may plan a resumption in therapeutic part-time which he can also negotiate with the employer.

What is there in terms of prevention of professional disintegration and possibilities of returning to work?

The liaison meeting is a possibility offered, it is not an obligation. It takes place after 30 days of absence. It is then possible to organize a meeting between the employee and the employer. The occupational doctor can be present if the employee wishes. This allows you to project yourself into the future and plan for a potential return to the same position.

Another possibility: the supervised trial, which was set up by Health Insurance, is carried out when the person is still on sick leave, in order to assess the ability to return to employment in the same position or in a different position. different position and under what conditions (full-time or not) and allow a return to activity. This supervised trial can last from 3 to 14 days, renewable once.

What can the occupational physician do for a person with cancer?

It has an advisory role in the context of preventing professional disintegration. He is best qualified to make proposals to the employer and support a possible request for recognition of the status of disabled worker (RQTH), thanks to a priority circuit, thus facilitating the financing of certain post adjustments.

The occupational physician relies on his multidisciplinary team which exists in numerous prevention and occupational health services (ergonomists, psychologists, social workers, etc.).

Recently, the occupational doctor can also schedule a pre-resumption visit (previously this was only at the request of the employee or the social security medical advisor), which is not obligatory, but which allows difficulties to be anticipated.

What relationship does the occupational physician have with the social security medical officer?

The occupational physician can contact the social security medical advisor who monitors and grants work stoppages and therapeutic part-time work, and among other things allocates disabilities.

We talked about the RQTH, but how can you benefit from it?

From the Departmental House for Disabled People (MDPH). Any attending physician or specialist can activate the device, but with the occupational physician there is an accelerated device. The employee can be accompanied by social workers from social security or the occupational health and prevention service.

It is usually the treating doctor or specialist who requests therapeutic part-time work.

What must the sick person do to benefit from a return to therapeutic part-time work?

It is usually the treating doctor or specialist who makes the request, sometimes with the advice of the occupational physician (Editor’s note, it is the medical advisor who will give or not the agreement).

The employer’s agreement is required for implementation. And the occupational doctor can discuss this with him.

What place for the skills assessment?

The aim of the skills assessments is to take stock of the professional future. It is the MDPH which takes care of this, but in certain prevention and occupational health services, it is possible to carry it out thanks to occupational psychologists. This allows you to see where the employee could go if they cannot return to their position.

Can self-employed workers have recourse to the occupational doctor?

If they contribute voluntarily and are active, they have the right to benefits from occupational health services, in the same way as an employee.

What messages would you like to send to sick people?

You must prepare well for returning to work and not return too early.

It should be noted that several measures have been put in place and made available to help return to work by anticipating certain difficulties.

And finally, do not hesitate to contact your occupational doctor who will prepare you for returning to work and after cancer.

To find out more, watch the interview in our Questions for Experts show: