how do you respond to coworkers who ask where you have been

My brother told me to say "I can't tell you." And of they press farther, say, "No, really, I can't tell you, it would be a violation."

The people that need to know, already know. And none of the above is a lie, you can't tell becsuse you don't want to and telling is a violation of your privacy. It also lets people who push and are a little too nosey, know they're being busybody jerks.

I've found that if I tell guys I've had a hysterectomy, they get all embarrassed and run away. So I tell them I had major abdominal surgery instead. That way they're less embarrassed, also quicker to help when I need them to pick up something heavy for me.

Female colleagues are okay with being told I had a hysterectomy.

For both male and female colleagues who want more details, I explain that I had cancer but that it turned out to be Stage 1A and I don't need further treatment. Everyone seems to like hearing that.

Of course, female colleagues who are my best buds at work want all the details, and I'm glad to share. Many of them made my own experience easier by sharing the details of their own surgeries with me back when I was still pre-op.

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Originally Posted by Feebs1 ...As for others (we have a large staff) outside of my team, if they ask what I was off for I will say surgery and if they press, I am totally saying "boob job". I am as flat as a pancake so I know they will find this hilarious....lol...

One guy, on being told I'd had an operation for cancer, assumed it was breast cancer and started telling me all about his sister's mastectomy.

I expressed sympathy for his sister but also explained that I'm naturally flat-chested and that my cancer had been "lower down."

I tell them I had a hysterectomy. Some ladies have more questions and I help them with my story. I think they are worried about themselves and have questions. They may need encouragement too.

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Originally Posted by yoursmine40 I tell them I had a hysterectomy. Some ladies have more questions and I help them with my story. I think they are worried about themselves and have questions. They may need encouragement too.

Education/support is a motive for me too. I had some light post-menopausal bleeding in December and January. When I reported it to my GP in early January, I suggested that it might be "no big deal." She gave me a verbal slap upside the head and sent me to a gynecologist.

The gyn told me I'd need a D&C. My response was, oh, gee, can't it wait until after tax season? (Tax season is my busy time of year.) The gyn said firmly, NO.

The D&C revealed that I had endo cancer. Although the cells were moderately aggressive (Grade 2/3), it turned out that we'd caught them before they'd made much of an inroad on the uterine wall (Stage 1A). I won't need radiation or chemo.

I think this a story other women ought to hear in case they get post-menopausal bleeding.

At first I told my co workers I was out on medical leave but that led to more questions like "what did you have done" and I didn't want to go there especially with the ones I wasn't close to. So I simply say, "I was out on leave", they ask "are you ok now " and I say "yes" and that's it. Sometimes I would turn it around and reply with a big smile "I'm back now and that's all that matters!" Just keep it short and simple.

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Originally Posted by Francesca92 I told everyone exactly what operation I'd ha done..to avoid misunderstandings..I'm glad I had my operation and don't feel any embarrasment in telling people.

I've been very open about it. When asked I've said a hysterectomy. It never occurred to me to not say that. I've only had one person make a strange comment, but she herself is more than a bit odd. When I told her, she said, "Why'd you do that?" as if I'd chosen to have a nose job or something. I just laughed and said you really don't want to know. Other than that, coworkers have been great especially carrying things for me. Wishing you all the same support!

It really depends on your work environment In large work environments, there's no need to disclose too much information if you don't feel comfortable, especially if you work in a place that would be less sympathetic to medical issues (e.g., working in finance vs. working in a hospital). In smaller offices or with closer coworkers, however, many of them might already know about the situation that lead up to the surgery anyway.