After I Beat Breast Cancer, No One Wanted to Hire Me

In March 2021, my mother and I were both diagnosed with breast cancer a week apart from each other. It was a punch in the gut, to say the least.

For 24 years, I had been an award-winning nurse working at the finest hospitals. In my spare time, I was a community health organizer. I was fortunate to find my calling in my twenties, helping care for people when they are ill, both medically and emotionally.

I had suddenly become the patient instead of the nurse. I’ve always believed the mind, the heart, and one’s faith dictate outcomes and how we approach the twisted roads that we may come upon in life.

So, I was laser-focused on doing whatever it would take to get that cancer out of me for myself and my family; my husband of 30 years and my four grown children. At 55, I was also the proud grandmother of 13 grandchildren, ages one to 18.

In March 2023, I was pronounced cancer-free by Duke University’s Dr. Vajay Paryani and his phenomenal team, and I knew that it was the advancement in medical science that helped to restore my health. Years ago, that would not have been possible.

I was ready and excited to go back to work because, without a salary, finances had become tight. I felt blessed to have recovered, but the economic burdens I had were stressful.

I was on Social Security Disability Insurance, but it didn’t cover the lost income and expenses of my illness. In our current climate, you must have two paychecks to make everything work.

Also, one’s occupation or employment is more than the paycheck. It is how we define ourselves. It’s a sense of contributing, interacting with people, friendships, and going to a company where you are part of something bigger than yourself.

Being a nurse was how I viewed the world. It was how I helped people, shared knowledge, prevention, and education of the community.

I began to apply for jobs. I was well known in my community of Wilson County as a community health advocate. I went for interviews and meetings, and multiple meetings with the human resources managers were upbeat.

Sometimes, I made it to the final interview stage, talking start dates and nearly ready to begin. Then the question would arise: “Why were you out of work for 15 months?”

I’d explain that I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I’d answer honestly, underscoring I was breast cancer free.

The tone in the room would change. Executives would stiffen. Many would not make eye contact with me. No one acknowledged the elephant in the room—ignorance. The once “needed nursing position” was being rethought. Many who had discussed start dates and praised my work did not return phone calls.

It happened over and over again—I’d have a great interview and recruiters would express that they needed someone of my caliber, then they’d find out that I’m a cancer survivor, and I wouldn’t hear from them again.

Frankly, I couldn’t believe it. I was not prepared for this giant social hurdle. After all, I had just beat breast cancer, only for another kind of cancer like a monster reared its ugly head—the ignorance of some people in society.

It was a time that tested my courage and also a clear recognition of the lack of knowledge about breast cancer survivors and other cancer survivors. I found myself taking the advice I had given to my patients for most of my adult life—seeking out advocates, teams, organizations, and doing research.

I came across Allsup Employment Services (AES), a private company that is a Social Security-approved Employment Network whose services are completely free and voluntary. I learned about Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program—that I could go back to work full time and still retain my SSDI benefits for 12 non-consecutive months.

This company placed me with a vocational case manager who assisted me with my career objectives, and whom I could call anytime. In fact, AES is available to me for up to eight years, taking care of the overwhelming government forms, acting like a kind of coach, answering questions, creating resumes for those who need it, and helping others to advocate for themselves and navigate the work environment.

The Ticket to Work Program has been around for nearly 25 years, but only 30 percent of people receiving SSDI know it exists.

With advancements in modern medicine like faster cures, I believe this program is vital. The 132.55 million U.S. workers have a right to know about Ticket To Work, which is available to workers who become ill and unable to work, and get approved for SSDI benefits, having earned it through their FICA taxes deducted from their paychecks.

I wanted to learn more about the Ticket to Work Program and to research the founder of AES, Jim Allsup, who had been a catalyst in getting the Ticket to Work legislation passed in 1999 and was still a leading reformer for Social Security Administration and disabilities on Capitol Hill.

You need a team with you when facing a health crisis or the lack of education among employers, who are fearful of hiring women who have survived breast cancer and are seeking employment.

The rate of unemployment for cancer survivors is 15 percent higher than for those who were never diagnosed with cancer. I was not alone. People were beating cancer and then thrown into a work world that was often unenlightened and fraught with fear and misconceptions about cancer survivors not being equal to other candidates.

When I was experiencing these misconceptions from HR executives, at first I was angry and disheartened. Then, I realized it was important for employers to know that many of those who beat breast cancer or any kind of cancer are mentally strong, resilient, and have triumphed over a brutal demon.

Aren’t they the kind of employees you want in your organization?

With the ability to talk out my frustrations with my vocational case manager, who had seen it all, I began using my job interviews as an opportunity to educate employers. After all, I was a medical professional interviewing with medical professionals whom I respected at hospitals where I wanted to work.

I persisted even when I felt down after yet another rejection because I had my vocational case manager supporting me. Having a team mattered, and I’d always given this information to my patients and clients.

For example, I include post-care teaching in my organization, Wilson-Raleigh Chapter Black Nurses Rock, which I started before my illness.

This is part of a national nursing organization whose members volunteer and educate the community about health disparities. This organization serves all people with health education information, on topics such as eating and lifestyle.

In May 2023, I was hired as a nurse at Eastern Carolina University (ECU) Hospital through Nomad, a company for whom I work that hires nurses for hospitals, and I am very happy there. It was a grand milestone that I will always celebrate, like I did when my mother recovered from breast cancer.

In my quest to find a job after beating breast cancer, I learned a lot about how far we’ve come and how far we need to go in educating employers about hiring breast cancer survivors.

As part of the go-to resources for patients, I began referring them to Allsup Employment Services.

Beating cancer and becoming aware of the lack of education among employers about survivors has made me even more resilient and committed to spreading the word.

I believe we are on the road to a better day. Every breast cancer survivor who is hired takes us one step closer to erasing misconceptions and making the world a better place. After all, that’s what nurses do.

Verna Boyd, 56, has been an award-winning, registered nurse in the Wilson-Raleigh community of North Carolina for 24 years. She is a wife and mother of four adult children and the grandmother of 13 grandchildren. With the help of Allsup Employment Services, Verna received the support she needed while transitioning back into work.

All views expressed are the author’s own.

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