Cancer used to be talked about only in hushed tones. The “c-word” was almost never spoken aloud, but kept in the quiet. No more. Many high-profile people -- celebrities, politicians, and even reporters have spoken out about their personal experiences. By doing this, they have made it possible for others to speak openly about their cancer experiences.

Each situation is individual and you must be realistic. Take your cue from the atmosphere of your workplace. Is it a formal or casual setting? Is there generally a great deal of support or caring? Are friendships encouraged? This is very important, because what works for a reporter in a newsroom may not work for an office manager; what works for a screenwriter in Hollywood, may not apply for a computer software designer in Boston.

If your spouse/partner works, they'll be tackling this topic too. Who should he tell, and how much? You can probably help him in making his disclosure decision by listening to him sort out the pros and cons. His issues will be more concrete. Will he need to stop working temporarily? Can you both live on your salary? Does he have to retain his job to keep his health insurance or is he covered under your plan?

Whether the two of you choose to tell your coworkers will depend on individual factors as well. Are you private people? How well do you know your coworkers? Do you share other details of your life with them? Will changes in your schedule be noticeable? If you are going to need to take days off, for example, or take a family leave, you will probably have to tell someone at work -- at the very least your immediate supervisor.

The decision to tell at work will also depend on how you believe this news will impact your career. Having a spouse/partner who is ill can affect your performance at work. Suddenly, you may not be up to your best or interested in all that overtime.

It may be a great relief to tell your colleagues and supervisors what’s going on, and receive whatever assistance is available or can be arranged. Sometimes just telling someone at work can relieve the stress of trying to hide things and acting as though nothing unusual is occurring in your life.

More and more people are finding understanding and support from enlightened workplaces -- supervisors, coworkers and human resources departments. Some companies, as part of their employee benefits package, provide employee-assistance programs that can link you to services such as counseling. Your supervisor or human resources department might be able to help you.