Woman sacked hours after learning she has cancer

A woman who was sacked from her workplace just hours after learning she had cancer claims she was given the boot because she would need extensive time off for treatment.

Elisa Madonia was told she had stage three oesophageal cancer in October last year, CBS Chicago reports.

Her doctors sent the property management company, S37, letters about Ms Madonia's cancer and the potential need for chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

But Ms Madonia claims two hours later her boss suggested she resign and then terminated her.

"I've been fighting for my life," Ms Madonia said.

"Not only am I being hit with a disease that I have cancer, now you take my job too?"

Ms Madonia has now filed a disability discrimination lawsuit against S37. "I think they had an obligation to sit down with Elise and say 'Hey what can we do here? Can you work three days a week? Can you telecommute for some period of time?' Instead of the knee jerk reaction of firing her on the spot," her lawyer Eugene Hollander said.

S37 was not available to comment.

Source: Eugene Hollander, CBS Chicago
Author: Emily Crane, Approving editor: Matt Henry