I had to work from my hospital bed while battling cancer.

When I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin Lymphoma for the second time in December 2019, I was in disbelief. The news was hard enough to process, but on top of that, I had to worry about how I would afford my bills and mortgage. As someone who did not have sick pay, I was forced to work from my hospital bed while preparing for a bone marrow transplant as part of my cancer treatment.

This was not my first encounter with cancer. In 2014, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma after experiencing intense back pain. Fortunately, my employer at the time had a generous sick pay arrangement, which allowed me to focus on my recovery without financial stress. After six months of chemotherapy, I was able to overcome the cancer.

However, five years later, I started experiencing similar symptoms and was eventually told that a bone marrow stem cell transplant was my best option. By this time, I had changed jobs and was working for a small business with limited employment protection. My employers were understanding, but the pressure of my illness put a strain on everyone. I ran out of sick pay in just a few days and had to rely on the minimum statutory sick pay, which was only £95 a week at the time.

As a single person living alone, I had to make a difficult choice between trying to survive on a limited income or pushing through an intense treatment schedule and using up my annual leave. Fortunately, I was able to work from home and avoid the added stress of a long commute or physically demanding job. However, the uncertainty of my illness and lack of financial stability only added to the already difficult situation.

During my chemotherapy, I worked weekends and even managed to work a few days from my hospital bed during my stem cell transplant treatment. It was far from enjoyable, but I pushed through as long as I could. When it became physically impossible, I took the rest of the four weeks for treatment as a "holiday." Upon returning home, I relied on savings to make up for the lost income and then had to work part-time for the following six months just to make ends meet.

I am grateful that my job allowed me to work through my illness, but I fear for those in similar situations who may not have that option. Working through illness can actually prolong recovery time and make individuals more susceptible to other illnesses. This was certainly the case for me.

That's why I am passionate about the Safe Sick Pay campaign, which aims to bring attention to the lack of sick pay for millions of workers in the UK. I am encouraged by the government's efforts to address this issue through a new employment bill, but I believe more needs to be done, such as increasing the rate of statutory sick pay.

I am now cancer-free and working in a profession that I love, but my experience has had a lasting impact on my health. I share my story because I do not want to see others go through the same struggles I did. Let's work towards a better sick pay system and prevent others from facing financial and health hardships due to illness.

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