Working hard to support a family is never easy but what I didn't know was that I was in for an even bigger challenge. In January 2006 I was diagnosed with head and neck cancer. My treatment started in March that year and I received chemotherapy for two to three months and then several weeks of radiotherapy thereafter.

Before and after the treatment I'd been receiving disability allowance for a year to help support my family. After this period, I had to be re-examined by a doctor and be reassessed in order to carry on receiving this benefit. When I was told that I didn't qualify for that allowance anymore I ended up receiving job-seekers allowance instead - substantially less and definitely not something my family could survive on.

It was time to get back into work again.

The treatment had been quite severe and I'd had a tube inserted in my stomach. When the cancer was diagnosed, they found that it had developed in my mouth and tonsils. But on the outside I looked fit and healthy so no one could see that I'd been unwell.

My background was in catering management so I felt confident that I'd get something soon - after all, I had enough industry experience and back in Denmark, my family had owned their own hotel. I even had industry-recognised qualifications that I'd gained while working my way up to a senior management position. It didn't occur to me that I'd have any trouble finding work.

On a fortnightly basis I applied for between five and 10 jobs, filling out application form after application form. I waited for the phone to ring but wasn't offered even one interview during the first six months. The qualities I emphasised on my applications included experience in customer service, client management and project management. In desperation, I started applying for jobs that I was overqualified for and yet I still didn't have any luck.

And then the penny dropped. I realised the only thing holding me back was the mention in my application forms that I had previously suffered from cancer. It hadn't occurred to me that this might be the reason for the rejections until I was having a chat with a friend. She advised me not to mention the cancer as her husband had had the same problems when returning to work from cancer.

I didn't want to sink down a dark hole of negativity and cynicism or start feeling victimised. I like to think I'm frank and honest about everything. I look upon my illness as an episode in my life, and one which a future employer ought to know about. But I can only assume that I wasn't considered for the positions I applied for because I disclosed my illness on my application and that employers were put off from hiring me because they thought I'd be taking too much time off on sick leave.

I finally got a break when I was invited to have an informal discussion with an ex-colleague at an organisation where I'd worked before. It was the closest I came to an interview in all the many months of job-hunting. I formally applied for a position as deputy centre manager and was offered the job which I started in September 2007. Did my employer know about the cancer? Yes. But he also knew I was capable of carrying out the work.

Everyone deserves an opportunity to earn a living. I've recently recruited a man who had a severe skin condition and, like me, had experienced difficulty finding employment. But I recognised that his physical appearance had nothing to do with his ability to do a job well.

The experience of fighting a life-threatening illness helps you cope with most things that life throws at you. I'm through the worst now and am more positive now than I've ever been. My relationship with my children is much stronger now that I have recovered from the treatment they had to watch me go through. I've also found solace in listening to therapeutic music and now create my own.

And I'm happy with the job I'm doing. In spite of what I have been through, I remain convinced that honesty was the right approach. Gaps on CVs have to be explained to any prospective employer. Time out of the office for doctors or hospital appointments have to be justified.

And if I'm honest, I'd rather be employed by someone who appreciates honesty.

Disability discrimination

Under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), it's unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a person because of their disability. Cancer is classed as a disability under the DDA which covers workers who were disabled in the past, even if they are no longer disabled.

"The problem is that employers don't actually know what to do to help people with cancer when they return to work after treatment," says Duleep Allirajah, policy manager at Macmillan Cancer Support.

If you are returning to work after a serious illness:

• Find the relevant policies from your employer's human resources department.

• Explore possible solutions including working from home, flexible hours, using holiday time, changing your role or job description, adjusting targets or objectives or shifting to lighter duties.

• If you are going back to work after a long period of sick leave, suggest a phased return in which you increase your hours gradually over time.

• If adjustments are needed at your workplace, ask about the Access to Work scheme at your local Jobcentre Plus office.

• Consider asking someone at your workplace to be your "buddy" or mentor. Choose someone you are comfortable with, perhaps someone who has experienced a serious illness themselves.

• Know your legal rights - ask your union representative, if you have one.

• Write down the dates, times and details of any discriminatory actions and conversations that you have with your employer.

Macmillan Cancer Support line: 0800 500800