Support Line: 0300 373 8500
Living with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia (WM) can affect your working life in different ways — and that’s completely okay. Everyone’s experience is unique, depending on your symptoms, treatment, and the kind of work you do.
Even if you’re feeling well and working as usual, it’s still helpful to know about the support and rights available to you, just in case you need them later.
WM might affect your work in a few ways, including:
Yes — many people continue working with WM. What that looks like for you depends on how you’re feeling and what kind of job you do. It’s okay if you need changes to help you manage your work and health side by side.
You have rights at work that protect you and can make working with WM more manageable.
You don’t have to tell your employer about your diagnosis — it’s your choice. But if you do, they can offer support and make reasonable changes (called “reasonable adjustments”) to help you stay in work comfortably.
These adjustments could include flexible hours, time off for appointments, or working from home. Many workplaces also have wellbeing or support schemes — and you might miss out on these if your employer doesn’t know what you’re going through.
Any conversations you have with your employer about your health should stay private unless you say otherwise.
In the UK, if you’re living with cancer, you’re legally considered to have a disability. This means you’re protected from discrimination at work.
Your employer is required to consider reasonable adjustments to support you — for example:
