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Work in an environment at high risk for infection?

Page last modified on: October 10, 2008

Question from Michaela: Can I get some advice? Should I continue working before, and for that matter, during and after treatment at my job? I am working in the CL3 environment: avian influenza and other animal diseases.: Answer —Ruth Oratz, M.D., F.A.C.P.: It sounds as if you are in an environment where you might be exposed to some rather serious infections. You did not specify what treatment you're taking, but it sounds like it might be chemotherapy or other treatments that might increase your susceptibility to infection. There are some precautions that could be taken, and some medication that could be used to help maintain the integrity of your immune system during treatment, and you should discuss this with your oncologist. You should also review the general precautions in your workplace that would protect you and other employees from contracting a serious contagious disease. There should be OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and other federal workplace regulations about protecting employees who are working with infectious agents.

On Wednesday, September 19, 2007, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Working During Treatment. Barbara Hoffman, J.D., Irene Card, and moderator Ruth Oratz, M.D., F.A.C.P. answered your questions about the legal, financial, physical, and emotional aspects of working during breast cancer treatment.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Barbara Hoffman, J.D. is a member of the Legal Research and Writing faculty of Rutgers Law School B in Newark and is the founding chair of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.

Irene Card is president of Medical Insurance Claims, Inc., a health insurance services company in New Jersey, which she founded in 1980. Ms. Card is the former insurance advisor to the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship and Memorial Sloan Kettering Post Treatment Resource Program.

Ruth Oratz, M.D., F.A.C.P. is associate professor of clinical medicine at New York University School of Medicine. She is the founder of The Women's Oncology & Wellness Practice in New York City where she specializes in treating women with breast cancer and other malignancies, as well as women at risk for cancer.