Have you been diagnosed with a brain tumour? Order your free information pack.

Employment after a brain tumour diagnosis

Staying in, returning to, or looking for employment after a brain tumour diagnosis can be quite a challenge – for people who have a brain tumour and for people caring for them.

Receiving a brain tumour diagnosis is a life-changing event that often has a far-reaching effect on your ability to stay in employment or find a job in the future.

You might need to take a significant amount of time off work for appointments, treatment and recovery. It can also be much harder to work in the same way as before because of side-effects caused by the tumour or its treatment – for example, unmanageable fatigue or cognitive difficulties.

Many people have to give up work entirely, change jobs, or reduce their hours or duties. If a partner is acting as a carer, their work may be affected too. As a result, financial difficulties are common for families affected by a brain tumour.

We’ve developed some resources below to help you understand your rights and the support available to you at work.

Employment rights

Find out what rights you have at work if you have a brain tumour.

Reasonable adjustments

Reasonable adjustments can help you to manage your side effects at work.

Telling your employer

How to talk to your employer about your diagnosis and why you may choose to do so.

My employee has a brain tumour

How to support an employee with a brain tumour.

Employment advice

Organisations you can speak to for advice around your employment.

Our experienced Benefits and Money Advisor providing advice over the phone to someone affected by a brain tumour

Expert benefits & money advice

Last year our free Benefits and Money Clinic helped 332 members of our community claim over £950,000!

Mark running at a fundraising event

I was told I had to stop working in my current role and was placed into an alternative office-based role.

Tips from our community

“After returning to work following a long period of time off to recover from surgery, my partner said noise-cancelling headphones helped them focus without being exhausted by the background noise of a busy office.”

“Try not to compare yourself to your colleagues too much. You might be working a little slower after your diagnosis, but it doesn’t mean your input is less valuable.”

“I’ve been back at work over a year now but when I first returned I paced myself using a WobL watch. I would set it to vibrate at different intervals to remind me to take a break.”

“After her treatment, our 17-year old started working at a local stables for a few hours a week. They slowly built this up over time and they’re now doing three full days every week.”

Join one of our Online Support Communities for more tips about coping with a brain tumour diagnosis, from people who truly understand what you’re going through.

Find out more

If you have further questions, need to clarify any of the information on this page, or want to find out more about research and clinical trials, please contact our team:
Support and Information Services
0808 800 0004 Free from landlines and mobiles
Phone lines open Mon-Fri, 09:00-17:00
A member of our Support & Information Team provides support over the phone to somebody affected by a brain tumour diagnosis

Get support

If you need someone to talk to or advice on where to get help, our Support and Information team is available by phone, email or live-chat.

Tasmin discussing employment difficulties following a brain tumour diagnosis

I struggle to work

Tasmin is a single mother of three children, and lives in Cheshire. She was diagnosed with a meningioma in 2013 and underwent a craniotomy. She is a midwife but has struggled with work and finances since the onset of her tumour.

Share your experiences and help create change

By taking part in our Improving Brain Tumour Care surveys and sharing your experiences, you can help us improve treatment and care for everyone affected by a brain tumour.