What about work?

I told them cause depending on your treatment plan, you you will have to be off for whatever, testing surgeries. they have to alot you 12 weeks sick leave so they cant hold it against you. But I had to tell them because of needing to do all the steps, but its up to you. If you dont need to make excuses to be off, you dont have to tell them anything

It's an individual decision you just have to see how open your workplace is. I did know a woman who thought her workplace was so competitive and backstabbing that her career would be over if it got out that she had cancer. Finally her boss called her in, sat her down and asked, "What's going on?" She tried to play it off and he said, "You have no eyelashes." Oh yeah, that. Anyway, it turns out that she totally misread her colleagues. They helped her set up at home so she could telecommute on days she didn't feel like working. People took over some of her more grunt-work duties so she could focus on things that were fun and creative. They really rallied around her, supported her and helped her through. So you never know.

I think it depends on your workplace.  In my case, I have to tell my management because there have been so many appointments.  Now, in my last office, I wouldn't have wanted to tell management because they just weren't that supportive.  But this office management has been awesome--encouraging me to take whatever time I need, asking how I'm doing etc etc etc.  Suppose it helps that the guy in charge went through prostrate cancer so he is super empathetic.

I would also make a difference about telling management and telling co-workers.  As far as co-workers are concerned, I only told a few people who I felt would be supportive and who I felt were friends.  I did not tell want to end up gossip fodder in the bathroom so there were certain people I pointedly did not tell.

I told only those that absolutely had to know in order to make arrangements for coverage.  Still too many.   I work in a very hard envinornment too, and, I think you have to realize that even if there is sympathy short term, in some work places it will work against you in the long term.

MariannaHB, hugs to you, cause that does just suck

My boss was one of the first people I told about my diagnosis of DCIS...Called her right after I talke with my husband and daughter......Son was at work......There were no problems.....Fortunately, I needed only a lumpectomyo and radiation....The radition treatmens were at hospital only 12-15 minutes from my office.....I never missed a day of work...Of course, I only work three days a week,   I had my treatmenst every morning before work.....

Good luck to you....Sandy

i didn't tell anyone at work until I had a diagnosis, and the surgery date was close.I had a plan for how my work was going to be covered and an estimate from my surgeon about how long I should plan on being off work.  I halved that estimate and my plan went off without any problems. I was a little sore sometimes at work after two weeks but I was also glad to have something to do besides think about myself.

Even then I had a co-worker send me some information about a video series of some woman who claims she had breast cancer and was healed by prayer.  I have plenty of belief but I'd decided to let God work through the surgeon, so the prayer thing was weird. 

A lot depends on how secure your position is. If you are a long-time government employee you can tell whoever you want whenever because you are In Like Flynn. If you are new, banking on a promotion or an at-will employee I think it's prudent to keep things private. Workplace gossip can do your career in very easily.