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Appropriateness of sharing at work?

Page last modified on: October 7, 2008
Question from LisaT: When should I stop sharing particulars of my illness at work? I am really close to my staff but don't know if this is appropriate.
Answer —Lidia Schapira, M.D.: You are in control of the information you choose to share with your co-workers. Decide how much is comfortable for you, and if you need to set boundaries, go ahead and clearly state so. There is no right measure of information that fits all situations, or satisfies all people, so it's important for you to decide what's comfortable for you, and make it clear for everybody else.

Editor's note: Visit Breastcancer.org's section Breast Cancer and Your Job to learn more.

On Wednesday, March 15, 2006, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Coping with Your Changing Feelings and Relationships. Lidia Schapira, M.D. and moderator Jennifer Armstrong, M.D. answered your questions about facing your fears head-on, handling moodiness and depression, diffusing tension with your partner and feeling close without sexual activity, as well as issues of self-image and femininity.

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

Lidia Schapira, M.DLidia Schapira, M.D. is a medical oncologist at the Gillette Center for Breast Oncology at the Massachusetts General Hospital and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Jennifer Armstrong, M.D.Jennifer Armstrong, M.D. is a breast cancer oncologist at Paoli Hematology-Oncology Associates in Paoli, Pa., with a special interest in physicians' communication skills.

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