Meet Nicole

About Nicole

Nicole is a paralegal in a law firm and is happy in her career. She enjoys working hard and then going on multiple holidays a year to unwind. Having a good benefit package means that she can make the most of her annual leave when booking trips away. Nicole loves being in warmer climates but often forgets to apply sun cream to her hands and feet. She also uses sunbeds before going on holiday to try to prevent her skin from burning. Nicole has never worried about being in the sun so much, until she spots something on her hand that doesn’t look right. 

Nicole's cancer journey

After some tests, Nicole receives the news that no 34-year-old expects to hear – she had Melanoma. She doesn’t know how to process this as she can’t believe it’s happening. She’s only in her mid-thirties and never thought she’d have to navigate something like this. After a consultation, Nicole has surgery to remove the growth on her hand and a skin graft to seal the wound. 

Although the surgery is a success and Nicole’s health is no longer in danger, it isn’t an easy road to recovery. Nicole types a lot for her job and she can feel her skin graft pulling. This is causing her some pain and discomfort, but she feels self-conscious enough being back at work and doesn’t want to draw any more attention to her. Nicole has also noticed pins and needles in her hand, but she doesn’t know if she should mention it to her doctor. 

It has been two months since Nicole had her surgery and although she knows she’s ok, she’s now scared to be exposed to sunlight. She once loved being out in the sunshine but now she feels anxious being outside for too long. She’s worried the cancer will come back. 

How can Specialist Cancer Care help Nicole?

Nicole’s Cancer Nurse Specialist (CNS) has carried out a thorough assessment of her diagnosis, treatment, how this is affecting her day-to-day life and identified the gaps in her treatment plan. The team has encouraged Nicole to speak with her hospital team about the ongoing pain and discomfort from her surgery, as well as the pins and needles she has been experiencing.

She has been referred to a physiotherapist within the specialist cancer team to help with these physical symptoms, and to an occupational therapist to support her in managing them so she can continue to carry out her work. Nicole’s CNS is also helping her manage her anxiety, offering practical coping strategies and clear, evidence-based advice on staying safe in the sun, to give her more confidence and control.

Supporting employees like Nicole

This service is included for every employee making a critical illness claim or an eligible loved one* at no additional cost, whether the claim is accepted or not. 

*This service is available for employees claiming under a Group Critical Illness policy, or  the employee’s spouse/partner making a critical illness claim on the policy, or an immediate family caregiver providing care for the employee, spouse, partner, or child. These services cannot directly support anyone under the age of 18.

This service is a non-contractual benefit provided through Canada Life and can be altered or withdrawn at any time.

These stories have been created to show how Specialist Cancer Care can support employees. They are not real-life stories.