How work kept me going during my cancer treatment | Sarah Donnelly

翻译人员: Howel Wang 校对人员: Gabriella Hu

It was June 2014.

那是 2014 年的 6 月，

I was 30 years old,

我 30 岁。

and I received a call from my doctor's office

我接到了一个 来自医生办公室的电话，

to say my test results were in.

告诉我化验结果出来了。

So I walked up to see her in my lunch break, and my doctor said

我在午餐时间去见了医生， 医生说，

she was very sorry to tell me that I had breast cancer.

她非常抱歉的告诉我， 我患上了乳腺癌。

I didn't want to believe her and at first, I didn't.

我并不打算信她的话， 起初，我真的不相信她。

You see, I'm a lawyer and I needed some evidence.

我是一名律师， 我只相信证据。

So I'm very embarrassed to tell you all

我很不好意思的告诉你们，

that I stood up and I walked around to where she was sitting

我当时从座位上站了起来， 在她坐的地方周围走来走去，

so that I could look over her shoulder and verify

这样就能越过她的肩膀看到

放在她前面的那张纸上写着什么。

what was written on the page in front of her.

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Malignant carcinoma.

“恶性肿瘤”。

But still not wanting to believe it, I said,

但我仍然不愿相信，我说：

"Now, malignant carcinoma, you're sure that means cancer?"

“恶性肿瘤就一定代表癌症吗？”

(Laughter)

（笑声）

She told me she was sure.

她告诉我，她确定是。

Back at work, I handed over the urgent things that needed to be done

回到工作中，我移交了一些紧急 需要我去完成的工作，

while I was having more tests to see if my cancer had spread.

而我还需要去做各种化验， 检测癌症是否扩散。

But at that moment, work wasn't my priority.

在那个时候， 工作已经不重要了。

I was thinking about how I was going to tell my family and friends

我在思考如何告诉我的家人和朋友，

that I had cancer.

我得了癌症。

How I was going to answer their questions

当我自己都不知道的时候，

about how bad it was and whether I was going to be OK,

我该如何回答他们关于情况有多糟糕，

when I didn't know that myself.

以及我是否会好起来的问题。

I was wondering if my partner and I

我在想我是否还有机会

would ever have an opportunity to start a family.

和我的伴侣组建家庭。

And I was figuring out how I was going to tell my mother,

同时，我也在思考， 如何把这件事情告诉我妈妈，

who had herself had breast cancer when she was pregnant with me.

她在怀上我的时候 患上了乳腺癌。

She would know how I was feeling

她会知道我的感受，

and have an idea of what lay ahead for me.

也知道接下来我会面对什么。

But I also didn't want her to have to relive her cancer experience.

但我不想让她分享患癌的经历。

What I didn't appreciate at the time

在当时，我并不希望

was that work was about to play a huge role in my treatment and recovery.

工作扮演我在治疗癌症 和恢复身体中的主要角色。

That it would be my coworkers and my job

在那时，是我的同事和工作，

that would make me feel valuable and human

让我认为自己还是有价值的，

at times when I would have otherwise felt like a statistic.

要不然我只会认为 自己只会统计数字。

That it would be my job that would give me routine and stability

当我需要做出很多艰难的决定， 面对很多不确定，

when I was dealing with so many difficult personal decisions

我的工作总能给我

and so much uncertainty.

提供帮助，

比如，我该选择哪一种 乳房再造的方法。

Like, what sort of breast reconstruction I was going to have.

And at a time like that,

在那时，

you would think that I would turn to my family and friends for support.

你们会认为， 我应向我的家庭和朋友寻求帮助。

And yes, of course I did that.

没错，我确实这么做了。

But it would ultimately be my colleagues

但最终，是我的同事们，

who would play a huge role in my day-to-day life.

在我的生活中 扮演了很重要的角色。

And they would be the ones to make me laugh.

能让我笑的，是他们。

You see, we were a pretty close team,

我们是一个关系很好的团队，

and we shared a couple of really good in-jokes,

彼此经常分享只有 我们自己才懂的笑话，

like this time they overheard someone ask me

比如，他们无意中听到有人问我，

how I got my hair so shiny and perfect --

你的头发是怎么做的， 这么闪亮，完美无瑕——

without knowing that it was, of course, a wig,

对方并不知道这是假发。

这是一顶很棒的假发，

and you know, it was a very good wig

and it did make getting ready in the mornings very easy.

它让我每天早上的梳妆 变得很简单。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

But in little moments like this, I appreciated what their support meant,

我很感激他们制造这样的小插曲， 以及他们给我的支持带来的意义，

and I wondered what I would have done without that network.

如果没有这样的团队关系， 我不知道还能做些什么。

I've spoken with so many people, women in particular,

我曾经对许多人说过， 尤其是女性们，

who haven't had the chance to have that network

她们没有像我这样的关系网络，

because they haven't been given the opportunity to work through treatment.

因为她们没有机会边治疗边工作。

And there are several reasons for this.

还有一些原因，

But I think it mostly comes down to overly paternalistic employers.

但我认为主要是因为 她们有家长式的雇主。

These employers want you to go away and focus on yourself.

这些雇主都想让你休假，专心治病，

And come back when you're better.

当你恢复后，再回来工作。

And they use those kinds of phrases.

他们会用这些话劝你好好治疗。

And while these responses are well-meaning,

虽然这些都是出于善意的举动，

knowing the benefits it brought me,

我也知道这些说辞的积极意义，

it makes me incredibly frustrated

但是当病人还想继续工作， 且身体条件上也允许他们工作，

when people are told that they couldn’t or shouldn't work,

但是却被告知他们不能 或不应继续工作时，

when it's something that they want to do and physically can do.

我的心里十分难受。

So I started to look into what an employer is required to do

所以我开始研究 当员工告诉雇主自己患癌时，

when someone presents with a cancer diagnosis.

雇主该做些什么。

I discovered that under Australian law, cancer is considered a disability.

我发现在澳大利亚的法律中， 癌症被视为残疾。

So if you are unable to perform your usual work duties,

所以如果你不能够担当 你平时的工作职责时，

your employer is obligated by the Disability Discrimination Act

你的雇主有义务依据 《残疾歧视法》，

to make reasonable adjustments to your working arrangements,

适当的调整你的工作安排，

so that you can continue to work.

这样，你就可以继续工作了。

What would reasonable adjustments look like for me?

但是，对我来说 什么才是适当的工作调整？

I knew the obvious impacts my diagnosis was going to have on work.

我知道我的诊断 给我的工作带来的显著影响。

Medical appointments would be scheduled during business hours,

看病的预约 经常安排在上班时段，

and I knew that I would need time off to recover from surgical procedures.

我也知道，外科手术过后 我需要时间来恢复身体。

Again, being a typical lawyer,

别忘了，我是一个很典型的律师，

I had done my due diligence on what to expect from treatment.

我已经对治疗过程 做了尽职调查。

Admittedly, a lot of that was through Doctor Google,

无法否认，有许多调查 都是通过“谷歌医生”完成的。

perhaps not my best move and I wouldn't recommend that.

这也许这不是我最好的举动， 我并不推荐这么做。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

But while I was ready for all the physical side effects,

虽然我做好了 应对副作用的准备，

what really scared me was this thing called chemo brain.

但真正令我恐惧的是 “化疗脑”。

Chemo brain presents itself through memory loss,

化疗脑会造成我的记忆力下降，

an inability to concentrate

无法集中精神，

and an inability to solve problems.

解决问题能力的丧失。

And if this happened to me,

如果产生了这些副作用，

我不知道我该如何继续当一名律师。

I wondered how I was going to do my job as a lawyer.

Would I be forced to leave work?

我会被迫辞职吗？

And how could I possibly have a discussion with my manager

我该如何和我的经理讨论，

about reasonable adjustments to my working arrangements

在我不知道副作用如何影响我时，

when I didn't know how I was going to be impacted?

怎样适当的调整我的工作安排？

I was fortunate to have a supportive manager

我很幸运，有一个理解我的经理，

who was happy to see how things went as we went along,

他很乐意随着事情的发展 而做出决定，

rather than requiring a concrete plan up front.

而不是在事前就做出具体规划。

I was lucky that while he may not have even known

我很幸运，他也许还不知道

about this concept of reasonable adjustments,

合理调整的概念，

to him, it was just common sense.

对他来说， 这种合理的调整只是一个常识。

But I've learned that it's not common sense to everyone.

但我发现，并不是所有人 都拥有这种常识。

Everyone going through treatment will learn how it impacts them

每个接受治疗的人 都会了解治疗的影响

and what their limitations are.

以及对他们的限制。

And they'll learn to adjust for that.

他们会做出相应的调整。

So for me, there were the tips and tricks that I learned about the treatment itself,

对我来说，我学到了 关于治疗的小贴士和恢复技巧，

like, before you go to chemo,

比如在化疗之前，

you need to make sure you're really well hydrated

你需要补充足够的水分，

and that you're warm, because it helps the nurses to find your veins.

而且要注意保暖， 以便护士能找到你的静脉。

And make sure that you don't eat any of your favorite food,

在化疗之前和之后，

either before or after chemo,

你不能吃你喜欢的食物，

because you're going to be throwing that up

因为你会把它吐出来，

and you won't ever want to look at it again.

而且再也不想见它们。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

这是我从治疗的痛苦中学来的。

I learned that one the hard way.

And then there were the tricks for managing my workflow.

另外，我还学到了一些 管理我工作的小技巧。

I scheduled chemo for first thing on a Monday morning.

我将化疗安排为 周一早上做的一件事。

I knew that from the time I left the cancer care unit,

我知道，从离开癌症照顾中心开始，

I had about four hours before this fog screen would come down

四个小时之后，

and I would start to be sick.

一些副作用就会开始显现。

So I would use that time to clean my inbox and make any urgent calls.

所以我利用这些时间 处理邮件，打一些紧急的电话，

The worst of the sickness would be gone within about 48 hours.

最严重的副作用 会在 48 小时内消退。

And then I would log back into work from home.

接着我会在家工作。

This treatment continued and I knew what to expect.

治疗继续进行， 我也知道接下来要面对什么。

I was able to set reasonable expectations with my business partners

我也会告诉我的合作伙伴

about what I could do

我大概能承受多少工作量，

and the time frames that I could do it in.

需要花多少时间来完成工作。

But I still remember the hesitation in their voices

我依然记得他们分配给我一些任务，

when it came to asking for things.

以及要求我在规定时间完成时，

And asking me to do things by a certain time.

那犹豫不决的声音。

And trust me, these were people

相信我，这些人

很擅长设定截止日期。

that were not afraid of setting a good deadline.

(Laughter)

（笑声）

I got the impression they didn't want to put any extra pressure on me

我的印象中，在我治疗期间， 他们并不想给我施加

while I was going through treatment.

额外的工作压力。

And while I appreciated the sentiment,

虽然我感谢他们的理解，

I actually needed the deadlines.

但我确实需要工作的截止日期。

To me, that was something within my control

对我来说，虽然 有许多事情我无法控制，

and something that could stay in my control

但这件事情在我的掌控之中，

when there were so many things that couldn't.

也是能让我持续掌控的事情。

And as I was working from home,

我在家工作期间，

I was thinking about how employers should be applying this concept

我在思考， 在我们这个时代，雇主应该如何

of reasonable adjustments in our current age,

将 “适当的调整”运用到工作中。

where one in two Australian men and women

在澳大利亚，每两个人中就有一个人

will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85.

会在85岁前被诊断出癌症。

So, as we continue to work longer and longer into older age,

随着年龄的增加，我们还是不断的工作，

the chances of having a serious illness while we're in the workforce

在这种工作压力下， 我们患严重疾病的概率

are increasing.

也在增加。

And with technology enabling us to work anywhere, any time,

科技能让我们的工作时间和地点 变得更加自由，

reasonable adjustments are no longer contingent upon

适当的工作调整 不再视治疗时间的安排而定，

whether or not you can continue to physically make it

不再关注你是否能继续

into the physical office.

在办公室里工作。

Reasonable adjustments are also not about

适当的工作调整并不是

just offering a longer break or a comfier chair to sit in,

给你更长的休息时间， 或给你一把更舒适的椅子，

although those things might be good, too.

虽然，能提供这些东西也不错。

At the very least,

至少，

we need to be applying the flexibility policies and strategies

我们应制定灵活的政策和战略，

we've developed for other scenarios,

以适应不同人的需求，

like for people with family responsibilities.

比如，需要承担家庭责任的人。

But how can we ensure that people are even having a conversation

但是，如何才能确保 人们能够与经理

about what reasonable adjustments might look like for them

对关于适当的工作调整 展开对话，

if a manager's first response is to say,

如果一个经理首先回答说，

"Oh no, don't come back to work until you're better."

“噢，不，在你身体恢复前 不要回来工作。”

And a light went on for me.

有一盏灯为我亮了起来。

It must be compulsory for managers

经理与员工

to have to have these conversations with their employees.

开展这些对话必须是强制性的。

And lessons from people like me,

像我一样的人们，

that have really benefited from working through treatment,

从边工作边治疗经历中 得到的益处，

need to be more widely shared.

应当分享出去。

And I thought about what could be done to guide these conversations,

我曾想过，如何引导这类对话，

and then an amazing colleague of mine, Camilla Gunn,

我有一个很棒的同事， Camilla Gunn，

developed a "Working with Cancer" toolkit.

创造了一个叫 “工作与癌症” 的方法。

The toolkit provides a framework for those diagnosed,

这个方法为确诊癌症的病人、

their managers, their carers and their coworkers

他们的经理、照顾他们的人 以及同事提供了一个谈话框架，

to have conversations about cancer and the work support available.

讨论能够给予的在癌症 和工作方面的帮助。

Camilla and I have now been to other organizations

Camilla 和我曾去过一些机构组织，

to talk about the toolkit

去介绍我们的这个方法，

and how it can help to guide through

以及如何引导人们

what, quite frankly, are otherwise some pretty awkward conversations.

开展这本来就有些尴尬的对话。

And I'm pleased to say that the uptake of the toolkit is increasing.

我很高兴的说， 越来越多的人在使用这种方法。

So what should be a manager's first response

那么，当人们说他们生病了，

when somebody says that they're sick

但不知道对工作有什么影响时，

经理的第一反应应该是什么呢？

and they don't know how it's going to impact their work?

It must be this:

应该是这样：

"To the extent that you are able, and want to,

“在你能达到的能力范围内， 依照你的主观意愿，

we would love to work out an arrangement for you

我们非常乐意为你能 边工作边治疗，

to continue to work through treatment."

做出相应的工作调整。

We need to start positively engaging people with serious illness

我们应积极的保留

to keep them in the workforce,

重病员工的工作资格，

rather than paternalistically pushing them away.

而不是家长权威式的赶他们走。

I've told you my story because I want you to know the benefits

我分享这个故事给你们， 是因为我从治疗期间

that working through treatment brought me.

继续工作中得到了许多益处。

And I also want to change your perceptions

我也想改变你们的看法，

if you think that somebody going through treatment

如果你认为人们去接受治疗

is just bored, frail and vomiting a lot.

是因为无聊、身体虚弱或常常呕吐。

And yes, these things were true some of the time,

对的，人们有时是这样的，

if not a lot of the time,

但却不是经常这样。

but I was also determined to push myself at work

但我也常常想方设法下决心

as much as I had always done.

让自己像往常那样努力工作。

And I was able to do that because my employer gave me the choice.

我之所以能这么做，是因为 我的雇主给了我这个选项。

Most importantly, I'm telling you

最重要的是，我想告诉在座的各位，

because while it's a seemingly obvious choice to give someone,

这本来就该给予人们的选择

it's not one that is always offered or encouraged.

却总是被摒弃。

And it must be.

这个选择是必须提供的。

Thank you.

谢谢。

(Applause)

（掌声）