Five years ago, I walked out of the hospital after completing cancer treatment. At the time, I shared my journey the only way I could — moment by moment, post by post, breath by breath. What I didn’t fully grasp then was just how much of that experience would stay with me long after treatment ended.
Last year , I had the honour of being the first guest on a new podcast called Serenity Uprising, Rising hosted by the remarkable Bron. It’s a space for cancer survivors to tell their stories, be heard, and learn from each other — not just about survival, but about living after survival.
In this episode, I talked about how I’ve learned to integrate the distress, fear, and upheaval that came with cancer treatment into the way I live today. Because the truth is this:
Treatment for cancer is distressing.
And the journey — for most of us — doesn’t end when treatment does.
What was striking to me in this conversation was the shift in perspective. When you’re in the middle of something hard, you can’t see how it will shape you. But looking back from where I am now — approaching five years out — I can see how those experiences altered not just my body, but how I think, work, lead, and care for others.
And this isn’t just a cancer issue.
Chronic Illness and Work: A Reality for Millions
Cancer is one form of chronic illness. But it’s far from the only one. Across the world, a substantial proportion of adults live with one or more long-term health conditions that affect their daily function and capacity. For example, research shows that:
- large majority of working-age adults (aged 18–64) have at least one chronic health condition, and more than half of such adults have multiple chronic conditions. AJMC
These conditions — from musculoskeletal pain and arthritis to diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and beyond — don’t just impact health outcomes. They directly shape people’s ability to work, perform, and participate in daily life.
That means that 50%-plus of the adult working population is already navigating chronic health issues that affect their capacity at work or home. AJMC
So What Does That Mean for Health Professionals?
If half — or more — of working adults are managing chronic health conditions, then every field of health and care — from general practice, nursing, allied health, mental health, rehabilitation, occupational therapy, community care, and beyond — has to be ready for this reality.
Health professionals will need to be:
- Confident in diagnosing and supporting people with long-term health conditions.
- Competent in addressing the functional, psychological, and social dimensions of chronic illness.
- Comfortable with uncertainty, fluctuation, and the ongoing nature of chronic care.
Because chronic illness isn’t just a “medical problem” — it’s a lived experience that affects work, relationships, identity, finances, and everyday functioning.
And What About Workplaces?
Employers too can no longer treat chronic illness as a fringe issue. When so many workers are living with health conditions that affect performance, attendance, fatigue, or capacity:
- Workplaces must become inclusive, flexible, and adaptive.
- Managers must learn to engage in supportive, informed conversations about health and productivity.
- Policies must reflect the reality that people manage illness and work simultaneously — not in sequence.
This is not just a matter of compassion — it’s a matter of organisational resilience and sustainability.
Why Stories Matter
That’s what made recording Serenity Rising so special. This podcast isn’t just about surviving disease — it’s about making sense of how life carries on after or alongside chronic health challenges.
Bron, the host, was someone who helped me believe — even when I didn’t know it — that I’d get through the hardest days. Back then, I used to say #onedaythiswillbehistory.
And now, nearly five years later? It kind of is.
If you’d like to hear the full conversation — the hard parts and the hope — you can listen to the episode here:
👉 Listen here
If it resonates, please consider subscribing and leaving a review. For a brand-new podcast stepping into an important space, your support helps it reach the people who need it most.
https://www.ajmc.com/view/ajmc_11feb_naessens_118to122? – JO ready this the stats are even worse