Conversations with Working Carers

ASSOCIATE SARAH DAWSON DISCUSSES HER EXPERIENCE OF BEING A WORKING CARER AND HAVING HER OWN CANCER DIAGNOSIS

The lives of working carers for those with cancer are often overlooked, downplayed or misunderstood.

Here, WWC associate Sarah Dawson talks about the challenges she has faced, what she has learned and what advice she would give to others, like her, caring for a family member with cancer. Sarah movingly describes caring for her 14-year-old son as a single mum of three, more recently for her husband, and receiving her own cancer diagnosis.

‘When Al was diagnosed, although not yet divorced, I was a single parent, a mum of 3 teenagers, self-employed.  During his treatment there was an expectation by the ward I would be in hospital with Al. Al wanted me there too.  We were in patients for 5-6 days each round of treatment.  So, I had to consider my other 2 children?  How could I earn money if I was in hospital?  I was very pragmatic about what could and could not be done’.  

You can watch the full interview or view short excerpts below.

Introductions

Clip 1 – Sarah describes the cancer diagnoses of her son, her husband and herself

Clip 2 – The challenges Sarah faced in being a carer for her son and later her husband

Clip 3 – The specific challenges of working whilst caring for someone with terminal illness

Clip 4 – With regard to Sarah’s own diagnosis what was the same, what was different and why?

Clip 5 – Looking back, what Sarah would have done differently

Clip 6 – Sarah discusses the advice and ‘top tips’ she would pass on to others

Clip 7 – The advice Sarah would pass on to employers

Clip 8 – The changes Sarah would you like to see in the UK to improve the ability of people to manage work and cancer and return to work if they wish to

Clip 9 – And finally…Sarah’s further advice and reflections