When we were talking to survivors for this issue, we met one who didn't want people to know she had had cancer. She wasn't ashamed -- and in fact she was eager to talk with us about concerns she had faced in the hope that it would help someone else.

But she declined to be identified because she was worried she had been the victim of employment discrimination.

Visit the Cancer Legal Resource Center for help with legal concerns.

"There was one job where I really thought I nailed the interview" she said. "I got a 98 percent on the test, but when I called to ask why I wasn't hired, the interviewer told me, 'We didn't design the test for you to fail.' I think I told her too much. I'm not old enough to retire, but I feel like there was some kind of prejudice because I'd been ill."

People who have a history of cancer are under no obligation to tell potential employers about their diagnosis. And, it is illegal for potential employers to ask. So where do you go if you have concerns about the legal ramifications of cancer?

Consider calling the Cancer Legal Resource Center, a free service based in California. The center provides confidential information and resources on a number of legal issues, including insurance coverage, employment discrimination, access to health care and estate planning.