May 20, 2026 • 30 mins
A cancer diagnosis changes everything instantly, but the reality for many patients is that professional responsibilities do not simply disappear. Navigating the logistics of intensive medical treatments while maintaining an identity and standing in the workplace creates an immense dual burden. In this episode, we tackle the complex intersection of employment, active treatment, and long-term survivorship. We sit down with Brittney Duke, a retail marketing professional and multi-time cancer survivor, to discuss how professionals can manage their careers while facing life-altering health crises.
We get into the specific corporate frameworks and personal choices that allow an employee to stay engaged without burning out. Brittney Duke shares her journey through a bone marrow disorder, leukemia, breast cancer, and colon cancer, offering a rare perspective on what it means to be the CEO of your own health. We break down the impact of formalized corporate programs like the Working with Cancer pledge, the necessity of open communication lines between managers and associates, and the value of small, highly personalized team gestures like peer support groups. Our discussion highlights how a workplace can shift from a source of stress to a pillar of stability and normalcy during extended medical leaves and subsequent returns to the office.
The unglamorous truth is that returning to work after treatment is rarely a seamless transition because the person coming back is physically and emotionally changed. Employees often struggle with ongoing fatigue, the pressure to look normal when they do not feel normal, and the exhausting task of constantly fighting health insurance companies for pre-authorizations. Viewers will walk away with a clear understanding of why strict corporate schedules fail during a crisis, how to effectively advocate for your own physical limitations, and how employers can provide genuine flexibility instead of rigid, transactional policies.
If you care about workplace culture, healthcare advocacy, and supporting colleagues through crisis, you will get a lot from this conversation. Please remember to subscribe to the channel and share this episode with anyone navigating a major health transition at work. What is the most impactful way a manager or colleague has supported you during a personal or medical crisis? Let us know in the comments below.
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Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_01 (00:05):
Hey there and welcome to Hope Unscripted, a
podcast of Hope CancerResources.
I'm Jamie Dietrich and I'mBrittany Harmon, and we're so
glad you're here.
Now let's talk about hope,healing, and the journey
unscripted.
SPEAKER_02 (00:23):
Welcome back to Hope Unscripted, a podcast of Hope
Cancer Resources.
I'm Jamie Dietrich.
I'll be your co-host today,alongside the wonderful Chuck
Hyde, our president and CEO.
And we have a wonderful guesthere today, Miss Brittany Duke.
And we are going to be talkingabout work and the cancer
journey all in one.
So I'm going to kick it over toChuck and he's going to get us
(00:44):
started.
SPEAKER_04 (00:44):
Yeah, Brittany, um, we've known each other for a
bit.
I'm going to start, just startby sharing your story, a little
bit about your story, maybe lifebefore cancer.
Sure.
And then uh once you had thatpersonal journey, you know,
through treatment and now intosurvivorship, just broad brush,
just introduce yourself to ouraudience.
SPEAKER_00 (01:01):
Yeah, well, thank you for having me.
Um, I when I was firstdiagnosed, I always said if
there's things I can do withthis experience to help other
people, then I'm fully gained,even if outside my comfort zone.
Um, but I have lived inNorthwest Arkansas for over 20
years, um, currently work in theretail space, have had my entire
(01:21):
career in marketing agency umconsulting and now um on the
brand side in the retail space.
Um and have never married, don'thave kids, have a dog who thinks
she's a kid.
No.
Um two of those.
Yeah.
No, no, we know that well.
SPEAKER_05 (01:38):
That's good.
SPEAKER_00 (01:39):
And have had the privilege of most of my family
being in the area and beingsurrounded, which is important
as we talk about the cancerjourney.
I was initially diagnosed in2014 with a bone marrow disorder
called myelobusplastic syndrome,which I remember at the time an
oncologist at Mayo said, Oh,this is the worst thing you
could ever hear, which was notgreat, bedside banner.
(02:00):
Um, it terrified my parents,especially.
Um, but it was very treatableand not actually as dramatic as
he had suggested.
Um, I was then diagnosed withleukemia in 2017, went through
about a year of intensivetreatment, most of which was
inpatient.
Um, so I do cycles in thehospital and then time to
(02:22):
recover at home, and thenfollowed by two years of
maintenance um treatment.
Um, at the I finished that inFebruary of 20, which was
fortuitous, um, because thewhole world changed as we all
know now in March.
Um, but um, you know, wasfeeling great and well and had
recovered well during that time.
(02:44):
I was then diagnosed also withbreast cancer and colon cancer
almost simultaneously, literallyone week apart, um, in 2024, um,
and had surgeries for both ofthose and then a reoccurrence of
colon cancer in 25 and havefinished that um recovery
journey as of this fall.
(03:05):
We learned through that entireprocess that I have a genetic
mutation called check 2.
I've inherited it for both myparents, which is very unusual,
um, which basically means likethe cancer receptors are all
shut off.
Um but the good news is all thecancer that's predisposed for
check two mutations I've alreadyexperienced.
(03:26):
So we've checked all the boxes.
SPEAKER_04 (03:28):
Wow.
Wow.
Yeah, that I mean, such anextended time and then multiple
um rounds, I guess, is the wayto think about it.
So and you so you've beenthrough it.
Uh and and and again, insurvivorship, you're still still
there for in a lot of ways, I'msure.
Um, as you know, one of thethings we wanted to focus on is
just the the work component forpeople.
(03:49):
Um, and so as we kind of moveinto that, you know, from your
own lived experience, people atwork maybe that you've known
have also had that kind ofexperience.
What are some of the biggestchallenges people face when
they're trying to balance workand a cancer diagnosis and
treatment?
SPEAKER_00 (04:04):
Yeah.
I had a friend who was acoworker for a time um tell me
when I was diagnosed that havingcancer is a full-time job in and
of itself.
And you almost have to becomekind of CEO of your health.
Um, and so there's a lot tojuggle logistically between
appointments and scheduling andinsurance conversations and all
(04:26):
the things that are prettydisruptive to your normal
schedule.
I think emotionally you want, Iwanted to feel um normal.
I crave there's very little youactually control when you're
going through a diagnosis likethis, or really any probably
crisis in life.
Um, and I crave normalcy, yetnothing about life is really
(04:48):
normal.
Um, and so just that mental umkind of balance of you know,
focusing on the mission of beingwell while also craving
normalcy.
I don't want people to see me asa cancer patient.
I don't want people to look atme as sick, yet that's a very
real part, you know, we oftenall face physical um
(05:09):
implications of our treatment sodifferent ways.
And so just balancing all ofthose things with work and being
a great associate and doing agreat job and wanting that to be
your focus during that time.
It's a lot to kind of have themental and physical juggling.
SPEAKER_04 (05:26):
Well, building on that idea of being a full-time
job and just being CEO of yourof your health.
Um, I would imagine again,people in my life that have kind
of walked that, you know, youhave a schedule, there's a
treatment plan, and and it wouldbe great if everything were
ordered and structured and justplay out great, right?
And you could you could planaround that.
SPEAKER_00 (05:42):
Very predictable, right?
SPEAKER_04 (05:44):
Yeah, exactly.
But then there's the unexpected,right?
So you're you you you thinkyou've got this, you're trying
to balance thoseresponsibilities.
You still want to becontributing to work, and then
here comes the curveball.
That wasn't part of the plan,right?
Right.
Like maybe comment on that aboutwhat people are thinking,
particularly in life and worktogether.
SPEAKER_00 (06:00):
Absolutely.
I learned early in my journey acouple things.
One is that no two paths arealike, even with the same
diagnosis.
Everybody's experience is veryunique, and there's a lot of
benefit in those sharedexperiences, but you can't look
at somebody else's and say,okay, I know what that's going
to look like for me, because itis very different.
But there's also so many thingsthat your body goes through
(06:23):
through your treatment that youcan't predict.
Um, so when I was in treatmentfor leukemia, my white cells
were incredibly low for you knowseveral periods of time, which
meant I couldn't actually be inpublic around other people.
Um, so you kind of anticipate asbest you can, but every day
(06:43):
really is different.
Um, and so you have to be ableto flex.
I had the and continue to havean incredible blessing of
managers and a company that'ssuper supportive and were
willing to be flexible with meand understood that it wasn't
going to be predictable.
Um, I think being open,communicating frequently were
keys to that.
(07:05):
But I have not had to worryabout if my company will be able
to flex with me, fortunately.
But I know that's not the casefor everybody.
For some, that is a challenge.
SPEAKER_04 (07:15):
So building on that then, um particularly during the
treatment that that that part ofwhen you're it's it's
unpredictable and you're workingin a plan.
What does, or in yourexperience, what was the
meaningful workplace support onthe on the on the employer side
of the equation?
Yeah.
What did they do that kind ofmade a difference during that
time?
Or what would you say toemployers that are maybe
(07:37):
listening to it?
SPEAKER_00 (07:38):
Yeah, absolutely.
Well, I think one, Walmart justhas an incredible Cenurb
excellence program that gives usaccess to the best health care
we need.
Um, and that in and of itselfrelieved a huge burden and the
benefits that we provide from aninsurance perspective.
But more personally, um, becausemy initial treatment was largely
(07:58):
inpatient, I couldn't be in theoffice.
And this was pre-COVID, so wedidn't know how to work remotely
at all at that point.
The infrastructure wasn't airtech question.
No, it was not.
It was not.
Um, but my boss was very willingto allow me to work remotely
during that time.
And so he and I just had anagreement.
If there's a day where I'm like,I need to be on the bench, I'm
(08:21):
calling out, you know, yeah, hewas totally accepting of that.
But I also said to him, if yousee me making bad decisions, put
me on the bench, you know,because I want to still be
present, I still want tocontribute, and I need this to
feel normal.
But if I'm not serving ourbusiness and customers well,
then feel free to call me out.
So we just kind of had thatmutual agreement up front.
(08:44):
Um, and I now have did haveworked with different leaders
through my additional diagnosis,and they've all been the same.
Like we've been able to havekind of that upfront agreement
of as long as I can do this, I'mgonna do this.
But the minute I can't, or thatyou think I can't, you know, we
have that in terms ofabsolutely, absolutely great.
SPEAKER_02 (09:06):
Yeah, so that kind of got me thinking as you're
going through that, because oneof the things you said is no two
people's cancer journeys thesame, right?
Like it's yeah, you don't knowwhat that path is gonna be until
you're living it.
Yeah.
So one of the things um we'rekind of thinking about is like
what should individuals considerlike in deciding whether to go
(09:27):
back to work or whether to taketime away from work.
And you know, hopefully everyonecan have that same support that
you did, but we know it's notalways the case.
So, what are some things aroundthat that you would suggest or
give advice on?
SPEAKER_00 (09:39):
Yeah, one of the big lessons for me through all of
this has been you have to beyour own advocate.
Um, even I have the bestdoctors, like I hands down, I
think I have the most incredibleteam.
Um, but there are still timeswhere you have to advocate for
yourself because only you knowhow you're feeling, really,
(10:01):
emotionally and physically.
Um, and so I think that's likeparamount in this journey.
I think the other thing is don'tfeel the pressure to do what
other people do.
So I trust my doctors a ton.
Um, when I started my treatmentfor leukemia, they said you're
not gonna be able to work.
Like, you need to take anextended leave of absence,
(10:22):
you're not gonna be able towork.
So I did an initial 10-weekleave.
And um, by the end of the 10weeks, I had redecorated every
room in my house and spent waytoo much money and was bored out
of my tears.
And I said to my doctor, like, Ican't keep just being home, I
want to go back to work.
And he was fully supportive.
(10:43):
So I think just um yourexperience is your own and be
the advocate for your ownexperience.
If you feel great, then advocatefor yourself.
If you don't feel great, thenadvocate for yourself.
But it's having a voice andknowing, you know, how to use
that that I think is soimportant.
SPEAKER_02 (11:01):
It sounds like just really listening to your body,
yeah, and just dialing into thatand not not fighting it either.
Yeah.
Okay, today's a bad day.
I mean, absolutely.
Today's a great day, I can pushforward.
SPEAKER_00 (11:12):
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (11:13):
Yeah, that's amazing.
SPEAKER_00 (11:14):
Yeah, and I'm a big like mind over matter kind of, I
mean, I do think how you aregrounded emotionally,
spiritually is really important.
Um, and there's plenty of dayswhere I had to make an
intentional decision not towallow in the things and to push
forward and to get up and go towork and to do, you know.
(11:36):
And I think for me, anyway,those distractions were helpful
to not kind of get drawn intowhat can be, you know, a really
dark place too.
SPEAKER_02 (11:46):
Yeah, absolutely.
Um our next little segment thatwe were going to talk about is
transitioning back into work.
So we've we mentioned it alittle bit and we talked about
it just a little bit, but fromyour experience or what you've
seen in others, what are somecommon physical, emotional, or
even cognitive challenges thatyou may face when returning
after an I'd say, you know,somewhat of a leap.
SPEAKER_00 (12:08):
Yeah.
I think um, and again, this isprobably true of many crises,
um, not just cancer, but I thinkyou're not the same person.
Um, and so part of it is youhave to accept, I have to accept
that I'm different.
Um, and in a lot of ways, I'mway better for it.
Um, but you have to start bysaying, like, I'm a different
(12:31):
person.
So my motivations might bedifferent, my ambition might
have changed, my capacity mightbe different.
Um, you deal with fatigueongoing.
Some people have physical painongoing.
So your body is physicallydifferent.
Um, and that's okay.
So, like, you have to kind ofaccept that and um the place
(12:51):
that you are at that point intime.
I actually have foundsurvivorship to be harder than
when you're in active treatment.
When you're in active treatment,you're like mission focused,
there's a clear goal you'reworking towards, you know,
there's a path ahead of you.
Survivorship, it's like I looknormal and I feel mostly normal,
(13:12):
yet everything on the inside isstill, you know, you're living
with it every day, you'rethinking about it every day.
Um, and so I think that's achallenge is you go back to work
and you appear to be quitenormal.
You know, your hair grows backout and you're wearing your
normal clothes again, and yetyou may not feel like the person
(13:32):
you were, and you may still bedealing with like the aftermath
of it.
Um, yet you don't you wantpeople to look at you as normal.
So again, it's always thattension of like, I want to be
normal and don't treat me likeI'm a cancer patient.
Yet there's still stuff goingon, you know, that you're
managing with.
So I um during all of this time,my role changed.
(13:56):
And in hindsight, it was such ablessing because it gave me a
little bit of space that Ineeded that I didn't know I
needed.
Um, because I'm not going to bethe one to admit that I need the
space, but it gave me a littlebit of space to to heal and to
be well and to thinkdifferently.
Um, but I, you know, your wholeperspective changes about what's
important, and that pertains toyour career and your work as
(14:20):
well.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (14:21):
Awesome.
Um, how can returning to workplay a role in healing identity
and survivorship?
You talked a little bit aboutthat, but you also in that said,
like, I don't want to be treatedas a patient.
I just want to be the newversion of me.
SPEAKER_00 (14:34):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (14:35):
So tell us a little bit more about that.
SPEAKER_00 (14:37):
Yeah, I mean, I think for me, returning to work
was a signal of um, like Ialmost see it as a milestone in
the journey, whether it wasreturning after, you know,
extensive chemotherapy orreturning after a surgery, it's
like I've kind of accomplished amilestone in my progress
forward, which feels good.
(14:57):
I think we all want to be makingforward progress and anything.
And so it's almost like it'slike, okay, that was a gate that
I needed to reach and I'vereached it.
And that, you know, now what'sthe next gate or the next
challenge?
Um, but I and I mentionedbefore, like cancer can be can
be all consuming.
It takes up a ton of your time,it takes up your physical
(15:19):
well-being, it can take up allof your emotional, and and I
don't actually think that's agood thing.
Um, despite that, like it's ayou know, you're fighting for
your life.
So of course it is, but I thinkum returning to work allows you
to start to rebalance your focusin healthier ways so that such
that it isn't all consuming, um,both mentally, nor is your
(15:44):
identity.
SPEAKER_02 (15:45):
It's a little bit of normalcy back, yeah, even though
so much has changed.
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (15:51):
Well, Brittany, we've talked a lot about just
your experience on the sort ofthe employer, the associate side
of things.
Um, so earlier this year youposted on LinkedIn about your
your experience with cancer andspecifically acknowledged your
colleagues at Walmart and thecompany itself, uh how much
support you received.
SPEAKER_03 (16:10):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (16:10):
Well, shortly after that, I see a national TV spot
and you're I'm like, Brittany,you know, and uh but it was it
was uh working with cancer, ifI'm right, right?
And so there's a and then thepledge an employer can make
around that.
Tell us about that effort andkind of what caused you and I
guess Walmart to get involved.
Uh, but tell us about what thatought to be and what resources
might be available there on theon the workplace side of the
(16:33):
street.
SPEAKER_00 (16:33):
Sure.
Um, so Publicist Group, which isa global agency holding company
network in the advertisingspace, started the pledge
several years ago after theirCEO himself had gone through
cancer diagnosis.
And he, through his own personalexperience, recognized the role
that work and companies need toplay in helping people through
(16:54):
this journey.
And so he rallied a number ofmultinational companies around
the world to say, hey, we're onboard and we recognize this is
important, and so we're gonnatake this pledge with you.
Um, and so this campaign is umit's been a few years, and so
it's an effort to kind of renewthe commitment that we all need
(17:15):
to make to our employees and toeach other to support each other
through this journey.
Um, and really it's um to getcompanies sharing best practices
on what they're doing.
As I mentioned earlier, I I haveto believe Walmart's high on
that list of best practicesbetween our COEs, the benefits
program that we have.
We have support groups forcancer patients, cancer
(17:38):
survivors, um, loads of opendialogue.
So I was really proud that wewere one of the early companies
to sign up for that pledge.
Doing things like being in acamp TV campaign are not things
that I love to do.
Um, but again, as I said in thebeginning, like if there's
things I can do to help otherpeople and use my experience and
given Walmart's scale andimpact, felt like it was an
(18:02):
important thing to to one, showmy gratitude to the company, but
two, also um be part of that tohelp make sure other companies
recognize the importance.
I think there's so many thingsum that on an individual basis
were done for me and havecontinue to be done for me
through my journey from our oneof our partners.
(18:24):
They, every individual on thepartner team sent me a postcard
every week when I was doing myintensive treatment.
So every week I just got an aword of encouragement from um
our partner team.
Somebody on my team set up aprivate Facebook group and
everybody posted dad jokes.
So it was like for a little doseof humor, I could go there.
(18:47):
You know, so there were tons oflike fun things that just
brought levity and humor andlife into the journey.
But then there have been othermoments like a colleague who
also is doesn't isn't marriedand doesn't have kids texted me
and said, I know how hard it isto go through something like
this when you don't have apartner and you don't have kids.
(19:09):
I see you and I'm here for you.
And like that text meant so muchto me, just for somebody to
recognize, you know, personal umexperiences.
So there's a wide range ofthings that I think employers,
managers, teams can do tosupport somebody from having
access to the best benefits inthe world to, you know, a f
(19:30):
private Facebook group that arejust so meaningful and have
stuck with me even in the 10years since.
SPEAKER_04 (19:37):
Yeah, I'm I'm glad you went there because that my
next question was going to beabout because I think I think a
skeptic could say, well, it'sWalmart there, the world's they
can do whatever they want,right?
I'm a small business, I can't,I'm a small business owner, I'm
a nonprofit, I'm a whatever Iam, and I'm not that, so I can't
do that.
But whether it's a a formalpledge or just as an employer,
I'm gonna make the commitment tomyself and my team that I'm
(19:57):
gonna do this.
Uh and you know, my storyincludes my two brothers-in-law
who who both received amazingsupport from their workplaces
that were not Fortune 100,right?
They were they were a law firmand a community bank.
SPEAKER_00 (20:10):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (20:11):
And they had the same kind of thing.
So I you you mentioned it, butregardless of size or industry,
just those practical things.
I mean, is there anything elsethat comes to mind that or or
places they can go?
If like I'll I need, okay, I'vegot a few Facebook group notes,
yeah.
Check, check.
SPEAKER_03 (20:26):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (20:26):
What are the kinds of things people could go and
say, okay, what would what ideastarters or things that could
provoke our our a unique orauthentic expression in our
workplace that could be?
What are your thoughts on that?
SPEAKER_00 (20:39):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's you know, things we
all strive to do as leadersevery day, anyway.
Open communication, trust andtransparency, um, respect for
the individual and their needs,flexibility.
Um, you know, life throws all ofus lots of curveballs, and as
employers, more and more we'rehaving to figure out how to
there isn't that delineationbetween work and life.
(21:01):
Um things merge.
And so I think really just likebeing empathetic and being human
and listening to what the personneeds are things any company of
any size can do for their team.
I think making sure you havegreat benefits, like that's a
practical one.
Um unfortunately, you know,cancer oncology would be a great
(21:26):
business for us to be out of thebusiness of, but it's a growing
um space.
And so we should all assume thatsomebody on our team in our
workplace is likely going to gothrough this journey.
And so if you don't havebenefits now, make sure that
that's covered.
But I think most of it's justlike really practical human
(21:47):
based things.
I think for patients, there'sloads of resources available
through all of the cancer umorganizations.
You know, there's in my case,Blood Cancer United has funding
assistance in states.
If you need supplemental helpwith travel or those sorts of
(22:08):
things, I'm sure they all do.
But there's also greatpeer-to-peer networks that can
help you navigate some of thestuff you don't know to ask
questions about until you haveto.
And there's great resourcesthrough many of the cancer
networks also.
SPEAKER_04 (22:24):
A thought that I was thinking came to me uh on the
way here was for the person withthe diagnosis, but then what's
your experience or perspectiveon when it's the caregiver?
You're the employer of thecaregiver, uh, that spouse or
that that maybe it's uh I'mcaring for my adult, my my
father or mother who has thediagnosis, but I'm the
caregiver.
Like, what how does what's whatlens would you put on that?
SPEAKER_00 (22:47):
I think it's the same.
I mean, honestly, I don't acaregiver role is very different
than the patient role, but manyof the same um challenges in
terms of juggling the emotionalside of things, the physical,
like physically being there forthe person that you're giving
care to, juggling being at work.
(23:09):
So I think a lot of the samethings apply.
We probably don't spend enoughtime thinking about the role of
the caregiver, quite honestly,and that's a hard role.
Um, as I have the bestcaregivers in the world, um, and
an incredible family and friendssupport group.
Um, but that's a lot, you know,it's a lot of burden on those
(23:30):
people.
And I don't know that we spendenough time on that.
But I think I would think as anemployer, the same kinds of
things apply (23:35):
flexibility, transparency, open
communication, you know,understanding that even though
they're not the patient, theirschedule is not their own
either.
Um, they're at the mercy of allthe things, um, just as the
patient is.
SPEAKER_03 (23:50):
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (23:51):
Thanks.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (23:51):
Yeah.
Kind of going into that, wetalked about the things to do
right.
So are there any like misstepsor things that you know of from
your network that uh maybe acompany did and it wasn't
intentional, but it was justcertain things you're like, oh
no, we could have done betterwith with this.
SPEAKER_00 (24:07):
I think I'm always um shocked when I hear that
people have um lost their jobbecause they can't be at work.
Yeah.
Um like that, I just it doesn'tcompute for me how that can even
be possible.
Um, so I think that clearly is abig misstep, especially as it
(24:27):
relates to benefits and stuff.
Um, I think in the realm ofbenefits, not having sufficient
care, you shouldn't have tofight for um pre-authorization
and pre-approval for life-savingum procedures, drugs, that sort
of thing.
And so often I've heard of otherpeople's treatment being delayed
(24:49):
because of authorizations um andthose sorts of things, which is
terrifying, you know, if you'rein that position.
Um, and I think just not beingempathetic, like forcing
somebody to keep a predictableschedule when nothing is
actually predictable is um, youknow, that needs to change for
(25:12):
sure.
Yeah, that's definitely a hard.
And I get like businesses haveto manage things, and especially
for smaller companies, you know,we have the benefit of scale
where if I'm not productive,somebody else is on my behalf,
and that isn't the same for allcompanies of all sizes.
Um, but I think beingpatient-centric or
(25:33):
employee-centric in these casesis really critical.
Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02 (25:38):
Um, what advice would you give to someone
navigating during work or aftercancer?
SPEAKER_00 (25:44):
Um, I think just listening to yourself.
Um, and again, being your ownadvocate, knowing, you know, you
have to use your voice, but Ithink that only you know how you
feel um and what you're reallywrestling with and experiencing.
And so, as you said, you know,being really attuned to your
(26:04):
thoughts and feelings.
And um, I think don't be afraidto ask for help um or to raise
your hand when you need to stepout.
It's probably a big one.
Yeah, it's hard to ask for help.
It is so hard to ask.
Well, and I it's funny becausewhen I first was diagnosed, I
was like, I'm not gonna tellanybody.
Um, but of course, through myfirst treatment, I lost my hair.
(26:26):
So at some point, like I had totell people, but I was a little
naive to think that I could justkind of skirt.
Nobody'll know, right?
I mean, I had you know the deepdark eyes, circles under my eyes
and was bald and all the things.
Um, and so at some point,whether it's a physical
manifestation or emotionalmanifestation, we all have to
ask for help.
(26:47):
Um, and I think just beingtransparent, you know, is
critical.
Yeah, I love that.
SPEAKER_04 (26:53):
Um Yeah, I know we're about to wrap up probably
here, Brittany.
But is there uh first of all,thank you for again stepping out
a little bit outside of yourzone to tell your story because
I think it I think it'simportant for people to hear uh
and your role modeling a lot ofthings for people, which is it
was just tremendous.
So thank you for that.
Um any last thoughts on theemployer side, or is there
(27:14):
something that you've thoughtabout this coming today that uh
just like I I haven't had achance to say this yet that we
haven't asked you about?
SPEAKER_00 (27:22):
Um I don't think I can't think of anything, I can't
think of anything different.
SPEAKER_04 (27:28):
Yeah, well, um can't thank you enough for uh again, I
think again, both for the uh Ithink about the employees or uh
who are in a diagnosis or insurvivorship or anywhere on that
continuum.
I think about the caregivers whohave someone in the workplace
and it and and I mean it's it'sfinancial security, it's job
security, it's meaningful andpurpose, all those things.
(27:51):
And I think about the employerswho in our role to provide that
level of of trust and confidenceand support is just uh amazing.
So thankful that you've had it,you said it was a blessing, and
I know that that's that's truefor you, and I think the
opportunity for us to to getthat message out to uh the
community is is is great.
SPEAKER_00 (28:12):
Absolutely.
Thanks for all y'all are doing.
SPEAKER_02 (28:14):
Okay, Brittany, is there a message of hope that you
would leave with our listenersand our viewers as we so June is
National Cancer Survivor Month,and that's a big thing at Hope
Cancer Resources, and we do alot around that.
But is there anything final thatyou would like to share or words
of encouragement?
SPEAKER_00 (28:30):
Sure.
Um I two things that Iconstantly say is that um cancer
does not have to define you.
Um, it is a big part of mystory.
Um, and hopefully, like we're onthe back end of that part of my
story, but it's a big part of mystory, but it isn't who I am.
I'm still me.
(28:50):
Um but I think importantly forme, um, cancer is very
bittersweet.
There's everybody knows aboutall the bitterness that comes
with a cancer diagnosis, butthere's a lot that's really
sweet about it.
And I hope when I talk to peoplewho are newly diagnosed, I
always tell them my prayer forthem is that they're able to say
that at some point because thelove you get to feel, um, the
(29:15):
literal physical and emotionalsupport.
Um, you just learn some reallyvaluable things through cancer
and get to experience thingsthat we don't in our normal life
that can be really sweet ifyou're open to that side of it
also.
unknown (29:30):
Yeah, wow.
SPEAKER_02 (29:30):
Well, thank you for sharing that.
Absolutely.
All right.
Well, thank you for tuning in toour Hope and Scripted podcast.
A special thank you to BrittanyDuke for joining us today and
sharing about workplace andcancer.
And special thank you to ChuckHyde, our president CEO, for
joining us today.
Please be sure to like, share,and subscribe.
SPEAKER_03 (29:49):
And we'll see you next time.
Hey there and welcome to Hope Unscripted, a
podcast of Hope CancerResources.
I'm Jamie Dietrich and I'mBrittany Harmon, and we're so
glad you're here.
Now let's talk about hope,healing, and the journey
unscripted.
SPEAKER_02 (00:23):
Welcome back to Hope Unscripted, a podcast of Hope
Cancer Resources.
I'm Jamie Dietrich.
I'll be your co-host today,alongside the wonderful Chuck
Hyde, our president and CEO.
And we have a wonderful guesthere today, Miss Brittany Duke.
And we are going to be talkingabout work and the cancer
journey all in one.
So I'm going to kick it over toChuck and he's going to get us
(00:44):
started.
SPEAKER_04 (00:44):
Yeah, Brittany, um, we've known each other for a
bit.
I'm going to start, just startby sharing your story, a little
bit about your story, maybe lifebefore cancer.
Sure.
And then uh once you had thatpersonal journey, you know,
through treatment and now intosurvivorship, just broad brush,
just introduce yourself to ouraudience.
SPEAKER_00 (01:01):
Yeah, well, thank you for having me.
Um, I when I was firstdiagnosed, I always said if
there's things I can do withthis experience to help other
people, then I'm fully gained,even if outside my comfort zone.
Um, but I have lived inNorthwest Arkansas for over 20
years, um, currently work in theretail space, have had my entire
(01:21):
career in marketing agency umconsulting and now um on the
brand side in the retail space.
Um and have never married, don'thave kids, have a dog who thinks
she's a kid.
No.
Um two of those.
Yeah.
No, no, we know that well.
SPEAKER_05 (01:38):
That's good.
SPEAKER_00 (01:39):
And have had the privilege of most of my family
being in the area and beingsurrounded, which is important
as we talk about the cancerjourney.
I was initially diagnosed in2014 with a bone marrow disorder
called myelobusplastic syndrome,which I remember at the time an
oncologist at Mayo said, Oh,this is the worst thing you
could ever hear, which was notgreat, bedside banner.
(02:00):
Um, it terrified my parents,especially.
Um, but it was very treatableand not actually as dramatic as
he had suggested.
Um, I was then diagnosed withleukemia in 2017, went through
about a year of intensivetreatment, most of which was
inpatient.
Um, so I do cycles in thehospital and then time to
(02:22):
recover at home, and thenfollowed by two years of
maintenance um treatment.
Um, at the I finished that inFebruary of 20, which was
fortuitous, um, because thewhole world changed as we all
know now in March.
Um, but um, you know, wasfeeling great and well and had
recovered well during that time.
(02:44):
I was then diagnosed also withbreast cancer and colon cancer
almost simultaneously, literallyone week apart, um, in 2024, um,
and had surgeries for both ofthose and then a reoccurrence of
colon cancer in 25 and havefinished that um recovery
journey as of this fall.
(03:05):
We learned through that entireprocess that I have a genetic
mutation called check 2.
I've inherited it for both myparents, which is very unusual,
um, which basically means likethe cancer receptors are all
shut off.
Um but the good news is all thecancer that's predisposed for
check two mutations I've alreadyexperienced.
(03:26):
So we've checked all the boxes.
SPEAKER_04 (03:28):
Wow.
Wow.
Yeah, that I mean, such anextended time and then multiple
um rounds, I guess, is the wayto think about it.
So and you so you've beenthrough it.
Uh and and and again, insurvivorship, you're still still
there for in a lot of ways, I'msure.
Um, as you know, one of thethings we wanted to focus on is
just the the work component forpeople.
(03:49):
Um, and so as we kind of moveinto that, you know, from your
own lived experience, people atwork maybe that you've known
have also had that kind ofexperience.
What are some of the biggestchallenges people face when
they're trying to balance workand a cancer diagnosis and
treatment?
SPEAKER_00 (04:04):
Yeah.
I had a friend who was acoworker for a time um tell me
when I was diagnosed that havingcancer is a full-time job in and
of itself.
And you almost have to becomekind of CEO of your health.
Um, and so there's a lot tojuggle logistically between
appointments and scheduling andinsurance conversations and all
(04:26):
the things that are prettydisruptive to your normal
schedule.
I think emotionally you want, Iwanted to feel um normal.
I crave there's very little youactually control when you're
going through a diagnosis likethis, or really any probably
crisis in life.
Um, and I crave normalcy, yetnothing about life is really
(04:48):
normal.
Um, and so just that mental umkind of balance of you know,
focusing on the mission of beingwell while also craving
normalcy.
I don't want people to see me asa cancer patient.
I don't want people to look atme as sick, yet that's a very
real part, you know, we oftenall face physical um
(05:09):
implications of our treatment sodifferent ways.
And so just balancing all ofthose things with work and being
a great associate and doing agreat job and wanting that to be
your focus during that time.
It's a lot to kind of have themental and physical juggling.
SPEAKER_04 (05:26):
Well, building on that idea of being a full-time
job and just being CEO of yourof your health.
Um, I would imagine again,people in my life that have kind
of walked that, you know, youhave a schedule, there's a
treatment plan, and and it wouldbe great if everything were
ordered and structured and justplay out great, right?
And you could you could planaround that.
SPEAKER_00 (05:42):
Very predictable, right?
SPEAKER_04 (05:44):
Yeah, exactly.
But then there's the unexpected,right?
So you're you you you thinkyou've got this, you're trying
to balance thoseresponsibilities.
You still want to becontributing to work, and then
here comes the curveball.
That wasn't part of the plan,right?
Right.
Like maybe comment on that aboutwhat people are thinking,
particularly in life and worktogether.
SPEAKER_00 (06:00):
Absolutely.
I learned early in my journey acouple things.
One is that no two paths arealike, even with the same
diagnosis.
Everybody's experience is veryunique, and there's a lot of
benefit in those sharedexperiences, but you can't look
at somebody else's and say,okay, I know what that's going
to look like for me, because itis very different.
But there's also so many thingsthat your body goes through
(06:23):
through your treatment that youcan't predict.
Um, so when I was in treatmentfor leukemia, my white cells
were incredibly low for you knowseveral periods of time, which
meant I couldn't actually be inpublic around other people.
Um, so you kind of anticipate asbest you can, but every day
(06:43):
really is different.
Um, and so you have to be ableto flex.
I had the and continue to havean incredible blessing of
managers and a company that'ssuper supportive and were
willing to be flexible with meand understood that it wasn't
going to be predictable.
Um, I think being open,communicating frequently were
keys to that.
(07:05):
But I have not had to worryabout if my company will be able
to flex with me, fortunately.
But I know that's not the casefor everybody.
For some, that is a challenge.
SPEAKER_04 (07:15):
So building on that then, um particularly during the
treatment that that that part ofwhen you're it's it's
unpredictable and you're workingin a plan.
What does, or in yourexperience, what was the
meaningful workplace support onthe on the on the employer side
of the equation?
Yeah.
What did they do that kind ofmade a difference during that
time?
Or what would you say toemployers that are maybe
(07:37):
listening to it?
SPEAKER_00 (07:38):
Yeah, absolutely.
Well, I think one, Walmart justhas an incredible Cenurb
excellence program that gives usaccess to the best health care
we need.
Um, and that in and of itselfrelieved a huge burden and the
benefits that we provide from aninsurance perspective.
But more personally, um, becausemy initial treatment was largely
(07:58):
inpatient, I couldn't be in theoffice.
And this was pre-COVID, so wedidn't know how to work remotely
at all at that point.
The infrastructure wasn't airtech question.
No, it was not.
It was not.
Um, but my boss was very willingto allow me to work remotely
during that time.
And so he and I just had anagreement.
If there's a day where I'm like,I need to be on the bench, I'm
(08:21):
calling out, you know, yeah, hewas totally accepting of that.
But I also said to him, if yousee me making bad decisions, put
me on the bench, you know,because I want to still be
present, I still want tocontribute, and I need this to
feel normal.
But if I'm not serving ourbusiness and customers well,
then feel free to call me out.
So we just kind of had thatmutual agreement up front.
(08:44):
Um, and I now have did haveworked with different leaders
through my additional diagnosis,and they've all been the same.
Like we've been able to havekind of that upfront agreement
of as long as I can do this, I'mgonna do this.
But the minute I can't, or thatyou think I can't, you know, we
have that in terms ofabsolutely, absolutely great.
SPEAKER_02 (09:06):
Yeah, so that kind of got me thinking as you're
going through that, because oneof the things you said is no two
people's cancer journeys thesame, right?
Like it's yeah, you don't knowwhat that path is gonna be until
you're living it.
Yeah.
So one of the things um we'rekind of thinking about is like
what should individuals considerlike in deciding whether to go
(09:27):
back to work or whether to taketime away from work.
And you know, hopefully everyonecan have that same support that
you did, but we know it's notalways the case.
So, what are some things aroundthat that you would suggest or
give advice on?
SPEAKER_00 (09:39):
Yeah, one of the big lessons for me through all of
this has been you have to beyour own advocate.
Um, even I have the bestdoctors, like I hands down, I
think I have the most incredibleteam.
Um, but there are still timeswhere you have to advocate for
yourself because only you knowhow you're feeling, really,
(10:01):
emotionally and physically.
Um, and so I think that's likeparamount in this journey.
I think the other thing is don'tfeel the pressure to do what
other people do.
So I trust my doctors a ton.
Um, when I started my treatmentfor leukemia, they said you're
not gonna be able to work.
Like, you need to take anextended leave of absence,
(10:22):
you're not gonna be able towork.
So I did an initial 10-weekleave.
And um, by the end of the 10weeks, I had redecorated every
room in my house and spent waytoo much money and was bored out
of my tears.
And I said to my doctor, like, Ican't keep just being home, I
want to go back to work.
And he was fully supportive.
(10:43):
So I think just um yourexperience is your own and be
the advocate for your ownexperience.
If you feel great, then advocatefor yourself.
If you don't feel great, thenadvocate for yourself.
But it's having a voice andknowing, you know, how to use
that that I think is soimportant.
SPEAKER_02 (11:01):
It sounds like just really listening to your body,
yeah, and just dialing into thatand not not fighting it either.
Yeah.
Okay, today's a bad day.
I mean, absolutely.
Today's a great day, I can pushforward.
SPEAKER_00 (11:12):
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (11:13):
Yeah, that's amazing.
SPEAKER_00 (11:14):
Yeah, and I'm a big like mind over matter kind of, I
mean, I do think how you aregrounded emotionally,
spiritually is really important.
Um, and there's plenty of dayswhere I had to make an
intentional decision not towallow in the things and to push
forward and to get up and go towork and to do, you know.
(11:36):
And I think for me, anyway,those distractions were helpful
to not kind of get drawn intowhat can be, you know, a really
dark place too.
SPEAKER_02 (11:46):
Yeah, absolutely.
Um our next little segment thatwe were going to talk about is
transitioning back into work.
So we've we mentioned it alittle bit and we talked about
it just a little bit, but fromyour experience or what you've
seen in others, what are somecommon physical, emotional, or
even cognitive challenges thatyou may face when returning
after an I'd say, you know,somewhat of a leap.
SPEAKER_00 (12:08):
Yeah.
I think um, and again, this isprobably true of many crises,
um, not just cancer, but I thinkyou're not the same person.
Um, and so part of it is youhave to accept, I have to accept
that I'm different.
Um, and in a lot of ways, I'mway better for it.
Um, but you have to start bysaying, like, I'm a different
(12:31):
person.
So my motivations might bedifferent, my ambition might
have changed, my capacity mightbe different.
Um, you deal with fatigueongoing.
Some people have physical painongoing.
So your body is physicallydifferent.
Um, and that's okay.
So, like, you have to kind ofaccept that and um the place
(12:51):
that you are at that point intime.
I actually have foundsurvivorship to be harder than
when you're in active treatment.
When you're in active treatment,you're like mission focused,
there's a clear goal you'reworking towards, you know,
there's a path ahead of you.
Survivorship, it's like I looknormal and I feel mostly normal,
(13:12):
yet everything on the inside isstill, you know, you're living
with it every day, you'rethinking about it every day.
Um, and so I think that's achallenge is you go back to work
and you appear to be quitenormal.
You know, your hair grows backout and you're wearing your
normal clothes again, and yetyou may not feel like the person
(13:32):
you were, and you may still bedealing with like the aftermath
of it.
Um, yet you don't you wantpeople to look at you as normal.
So again, it's always thattension of like, I want to be
normal and don't treat me likeI'm a cancer patient.
Yet there's still stuff goingon, you know, that you're
managing with.
So I um during all of this time,my role changed.
(13:56):
And in hindsight, it was such ablessing because it gave me a
little bit of space that Ineeded that I didn't know I
needed.
Um, because I'm not going to bethe one to admit that I need the
space, but it gave me a littlebit of space to to heal and to
be well and to thinkdifferently.
Um, but I, you know, your wholeperspective changes about what's
important, and that pertains toyour career and your work as
(14:20):
well.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (14:21):
Awesome.
Um, how can returning to workplay a role in healing identity
and survivorship?
You talked a little bit aboutthat, but you also in that said,
like, I don't want to be treatedas a patient.
I just want to be the newversion of me.
SPEAKER_00 (14:34):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (14:35):
So tell us a little bit more about that.
SPEAKER_00 (14:37):
Yeah, I mean, I think for me, returning to work
was a signal of um, like Ialmost see it as a milestone in
the journey, whether it wasreturning after, you know,
extensive chemotherapy orreturning after a surgery, it's
like I've kind of accomplished amilestone in my progress
forward, which feels good.
(14:57):
I think we all want to be makingforward progress and anything.
And so it's almost like it'slike, okay, that was a gate that
I needed to reach and I'vereached it.
And that, you know, now what'sthe next gate or the next
challenge?
Um, but I and I mentionedbefore, like cancer can be can
be all consuming.
It takes up a ton of your time,it takes up your physical
(15:19):
well-being, it can take up allof your emotional, and and I
don't actually think that's agood thing.
Um, despite that, like it's ayou know, you're fighting for
your life.
So of course it is, but I thinkum returning to work allows you
to start to rebalance your focusin healthier ways so that such
that it isn't all consuming, um,both mentally, nor is your
(15:44):
identity.
SPEAKER_02 (15:45):
It's a little bit of normalcy back, yeah, even though
so much has changed.
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (15:51):
Well, Brittany, we've talked a lot about just
your experience on the sort ofthe employer, the associate side
of things.
Um, so earlier this year youposted on LinkedIn about your
your experience with cancer andspecifically acknowledged your
colleagues at Walmart and thecompany itself, uh how much
support you received.
SPEAKER_03 (16:10):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (16:10):
Well, shortly after that, I see a national TV spot
and you're I'm like, Brittany,you know, and uh but it was it
was uh working with cancer, ifI'm right, right?
And so there's a and then thepledge an employer can make
around that.
Tell us about that effort andkind of what caused you and I
guess Walmart to get involved.
Uh, but tell us about what thatought to be and what resources
might be available there on theon the workplace side of the
(16:33):
street.
SPEAKER_00 (16:33):
Sure.
Um, so Publicist Group, which isa global agency holding company
network in the advertisingspace, started the pledge
several years ago after theirCEO himself had gone through
cancer diagnosis.
And he, through his own personalexperience, recognized the role
that work and companies need toplay in helping people through
(16:54):
this journey.
And so he rallied a number ofmultinational companies around
the world to say, hey, we're onboard and we recognize this is
important, and so we're gonnatake this pledge with you.
Um, and so this campaign is umit's been a few years, and so
it's an effort to kind of renewthe commitment that we all need
(17:15):
to make to our employees and toeach other to support each other
through this journey.
Um, and really it's um to getcompanies sharing best practices
on what they're doing.
As I mentioned earlier, I I haveto believe Walmart's high on
that list of best practicesbetween our COEs, the benefits
program that we have.
We have support groups forcancer patients, cancer
(17:38):
survivors, um, loads of opendialogue.
So I was really proud that wewere one of the early companies
to sign up for that pledge.
Doing things like being in acamp TV campaign are not things
that I love to do.
Um, but again, as I said in thebeginning, like if there's
things I can do to help otherpeople and use my experience and
given Walmart's scale andimpact, felt like it was an
(18:02):
important thing to to one, showmy gratitude to the company, but
two, also um be part of that tohelp make sure other companies
recognize the importance.
I think there's so many thingsum that on an individual basis
were done for me and havecontinue to be done for me
through my journey from our oneof our partners.
(18:24):
They, every individual on thepartner team sent me a postcard
every week when I was doing myintensive treatment.
So every week I just got an aword of encouragement from um
our partner team.
Somebody on my team set up aprivate Facebook group and
everybody posted dad jokes.
So it was like for a little doseof humor, I could go there.
(18:47):
You know, so there were tons oflike fun things that just
brought levity and humor andlife into the journey.
But then there have been othermoments like a colleague who
also is doesn't isn't marriedand doesn't have kids texted me
and said, I know how hard it isto go through something like
this when you don't have apartner and you don't have kids.
(19:09):
I see you and I'm here for you.
And like that text meant so muchto me, just for somebody to
recognize, you know, personal umexperiences.
So there's a wide range ofthings that I think employers,
managers, teams can do tosupport somebody from having
access to the best benefits inthe world to, you know, a f
(19:30):
private Facebook group that arejust so meaningful and have
stuck with me even in the 10years since.
SPEAKER_04 (19:37):
Yeah, I'm I'm glad you went there because that my
next question was going to beabout because I think I think a
skeptic could say, well, it'sWalmart there, the world's they
can do whatever they want,right?
I'm a small business, I can't,I'm a small business owner, I'm
a nonprofit, I'm a whatever Iam, and I'm not that, so I can't
do that.
But whether it's a a formalpledge or just as an employer,
I'm gonna make the commitment tomyself and my team that I'm
(19:57):
gonna do this.
Uh and you know, my storyincludes my two brothers-in-law
who who both received amazingsupport from their workplaces
that were not Fortune 100,right?
They were they were a law firmand a community bank.
SPEAKER_00 (20:10):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (20:11):
And they had the same kind of thing.
So I you you mentioned it, butregardless of size or industry,
just those practical things.
I mean, is there anything elsethat comes to mind that or or
places they can go?
If like I'll I need, okay, I'vegot a few Facebook group notes,
yeah.
Check, check.
SPEAKER_03 (20:26):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (20:26):
What are the kinds of things people could go and
say, okay, what would what ideastarters or things that could
provoke our our a unique orauthentic expression in our
workplace that could be?
What are your thoughts on that?
SPEAKER_00 (20:39):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's you know, things we
all strive to do as leadersevery day, anyway.
Open communication, trust andtransparency, um, respect for
the individual and their needs,flexibility.
Um, you know, life throws all ofus lots of curveballs, and as
employers, more and more we'rehaving to figure out how to
there isn't that delineationbetween work and life.
(21:01):
Um things merge.
And so I think really just likebeing empathetic and being human
and listening to what the personneeds are things any company of
any size can do for their team.
I think making sure you havegreat benefits, like that's a
practical one.
Um unfortunately, you know,cancer oncology would be a great
(21:26):
business for us to be out of thebusiness of, but it's a growing
um space.
And so we should all assume thatsomebody on our team in our
workplace is likely going to gothrough this journey.
And so if you don't havebenefits now, make sure that
that's covered.
But I think most of it's justlike really practical human
(21:47):
based things.
I think for patients, there'sloads of resources available
through all of the cancer umorganizations.
You know, there's in my case,Blood Cancer United has funding
assistance in states.
If you need supplemental helpwith travel or those sorts of
(22:08):
things, I'm sure they all do.
But there's also greatpeer-to-peer networks that can
help you navigate some of thestuff you don't know to ask
questions about until you haveto.
And there's great resourcesthrough many of the cancer
networks also.
SPEAKER_04 (22:24):
A thought that I was thinking came to me uh on the
way here was for the person withthe diagnosis, but then what's
your experience or perspectiveon when it's the caregiver?
You're the employer of thecaregiver, uh, that spouse or
that that maybe it's uh I'mcaring for my adult, my my
father or mother who has thediagnosis, but I'm the
caregiver.
Like, what how does what's whatlens would you put on that?
SPEAKER_00 (22:47):
I think it's the same.
I mean, honestly, I don't acaregiver role is very different
than the patient role, but manyof the same um challenges in
terms of juggling the emotionalside of things, the physical,
like physically being there forthe person that you're giving
care to, juggling being at work.
(23:09):
So I think a lot of the samethings apply.
We probably don't spend enoughtime thinking about the role of
the caregiver, quite honestly,and that's a hard role.
Um, as I have the bestcaregivers in the world, um, and
an incredible family and friendssupport group.
Um, but that's a lot, you know,it's a lot of burden on those
(23:30):
people.
And I don't know that we spendenough time on that.
But I think I would think as anemployer, the same kinds of
things apply (23:35):
flexibility, transparency, open
communication, you know,understanding that even though
they're not the patient, theirschedule is not their own
either.
Um, they're at the mercy of allthe things, um, just as the
patient is.
SPEAKER_03 (23:50):
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (23:51):
Thanks.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (23:51):
Yeah.
Kind of going into that, wetalked about the things to do
right.
So are there any like misstepsor things that you know of from
your network that uh maybe acompany did and it wasn't
intentional, but it was justcertain things you're like, oh
no, we could have done betterwith with this.
SPEAKER_00 (24:07):
I think I'm always um shocked when I hear that
people have um lost their jobbecause they can't be at work.
Yeah.
Um like that, I just it doesn'tcompute for me how that can even
be possible.
Um, so I think that clearly is abig misstep, especially as it
(24:27):
relates to benefits and stuff.
Um, I think in the realm ofbenefits, not having sufficient
care, you shouldn't have tofight for um pre-authorization
and pre-approval for life-savingum procedures, drugs, that sort
of thing.
And so often I've heard of otherpeople's treatment being delayed
(24:49):
because of authorizations um andthose sorts of things, which is
terrifying, you know, if you'rein that position.
Um, and I think just not beingempathetic, like forcing
somebody to keep a predictableschedule when nothing is
actually predictable is um, youknow, that needs to change for
(25:12):
sure.
Yeah, that's definitely a hard.
And I get like businesses haveto manage things, and especially
for smaller companies, you know,we have the benefit of scale
where if I'm not productive,somebody else is on my behalf,
and that isn't the same for allcompanies of all sizes.
Um, but I think beingpatient-centric or
(25:33):
employee-centric in these casesis really critical.
Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02 (25:38):
Um, what advice would you give to someone
navigating during work or aftercancer?
SPEAKER_00 (25:44):
Um, I think just listening to yourself.
Um, and again, being your ownadvocate, knowing, you know, you
have to use your voice, but Ithink that only you know how you
feel um and what you're reallywrestling with and experiencing.
And so, as you said, you know,being really attuned to your
(26:04):
thoughts and feelings.
And um, I think don't be afraidto ask for help um or to raise
your hand when you need to stepout.
It's probably a big one.
Yeah, it's hard to ask for help.
It is so hard to ask.
Well, and I it's funny becausewhen I first was diagnosed, I
was like, I'm not gonna tellanybody.
Um, but of course, through myfirst treatment, I lost my hair.
(26:26):
So at some point, like I had totell people, but I was a little
naive to think that I could justkind of skirt.
Nobody'll know, right?
I mean, I had you know the deepdark eyes, circles under my eyes
and was bald and all the things.
Um, and so at some point,whether it's a physical
manifestation or emotionalmanifestation, we all have to
ask for help.
(26:47):
Um, and I think just beingtransparent, you know, is
critical.
Yeah, I love that.
SPEAKER_04 (26:53):
Um Yeah, I know we're about to wrap up probably
here, Brittany.
But is there uh first of all,thank you for again stepping out
a little bit outside of yourzone to tell your story because
I think it I think it'simportant for people to hear uh
and your role modeling a lot ofthings for people, which is it
was just tremendous.
So thank you for that.
Um any last thoughts on theemployer side, or is there
(27:14):
something that you've thoughtabout this coming today that uh
just like I I haven't had achance to say this yet that we
haven't asked you about?
SPEAKER_00 (27:22):
Um I don't think I can't think of anything, I can't
think of anything different.
SPEAKER_04 (27:28):
Yeah, well, um can't thank you enough for uh again, I
think again, both for the uh Ithink about the employees or uh
who are in a diagnosis or insurvivorship or anywhere on that
continuum.
I think about the caregivers whohave someone in the workplace
and it and and I mean it's it'sfinancial security, it's job
security, it's meaningful andpurpose, all those things.
(27:51):
And I think about the employerswho in our role to provide that
level of of trust and confidenceand support is just uh amazing.
So thankful that you've had it,you said it was a blessing, and
I know that that's that's truefor you, and I think the
opportunity for us to to getthat message out to uh the
community is is is great.
SPEAKER_00 (28:12):
Absolutely.
Thanks for all y'all are doing.
SPEAKER_02 (28:14):
Okay, Brittany, is there a message of hope that you
would leave with our listenersand our viewers as we so June is
National Cancer Survivor Month,and that's a big thing at Hope
Cancer Resources, and we do alot around that.
But is there anything final thatyou would like to share or words
of encouragement?
SPEAKER_00 (28:30):
Sure.
Um I two things that Iconstantly say is that um cancer
does not have to define you.
Um, it is a big part of mystory.
Um, and hopefully, like we're onthe back end of that part of my
story, but it's a big part of mystory, but it isn't who I am.
I'm still me.
(28:50):
Um but I think importantly forme, um, cancer is very
bittersweet.
There's everybody knows aboutall the bitterness that comes
with a cancer diagnosis, butthere's a lot that's really
sweet about it.
And I hope when I talk to peoplewho are newly diagnosed, I
always tell them my prayer forthem is that they're able to say
that at some point because thelove you get to feel, um, the
(29:15):
literal physical and emotionalsupport.
Um, you just learn some reallyvaluable things through cancer
and get to experience thingsthat we don't in our normal life
that can be really sweet ifyou're open to that side of it
also.
unknown (29:30):
Yeah, wow.
SPEAKER_02 (29:30):
Well, thank you for sharing that.
Absolutely.
All right.
Well, thank you for tuning in toour Hope and Scripted podcast.
A special thank you to BrittanyDuke for joining us today and
sharing about workplace andcancer.
And special thank you to ChuckHyde, our president CEO, for
joining us today.
Please be sure to like, share,and subscribe.
SPEAKER_03 (29:49):
And we'll see you next time.
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