How does anyone work with cancer and. All the appts and chemo?
Sandy
Comments
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Working
Hi Sandy,
As a nurse, I'm sure you've had to give this same advice to your patients... but patience, patience, patience! After you have your surgery (not sure which surgery you are getting?) you know that your job will be to rest and take things slowly so you can heal from the inside out. And then as far as the 24 weeks of chemo goes... everyone's energy level is different. Also, depending on the type of work, etc. 12 hour shifts are pretty darn demanding, so maybe you can talk with work and see if there's some way you can do shorter shifts? Again... it will be different and what one person experiences, may have nothing to do with what the next person experiences. You may be just fine and can work while going through the chemo. I think most people find the worst part of chemo is you just get physically tired and need a nap when you least expect it... and that's what would concern me with your work because your shifts are such long ones. Obviously, you can't just go lie down when you get tired, and you certainly don't want to put your patients in any danger because you are too tired to be thinking totally clearly.
Now, it's none of my business, but as a Nurse, do you not have medical insurance to cover the bills... and do you have the option of Long Term Disability Insurance should you find you just can't work while on chemo? You have no idea of knowing how long it's going to take you to recover from surgery, and then the 6 months of chemo. Unfortunately, I can't really help you with the answers to your questions regarding taking time off work and the piling up of the bills. I'm in Canada and also happened to be working for an employer where Long Term Disability Insurance was an employee benefit... so these were not things that I actually had to think about. I know there will be others who come along and help you with answers, so I'll stop here
But, do come back with questions which I'm sure will start coming at you constantly as you go through this journey. And do let us know when you will be in for your surgery!!
Cheryl In Vancouver0 -
Part timeCherylHutch said:Working
Hi Sandy,
As a nurse, I'm sure you've had to give this same advice to your patients... but patience, patience, patience! After you have your surgery (not sure which surgery you are getting?) you know that your job will be to rest and take things slowly so you can heal from the inside out. And then as far as the 24 weeks of chemo goes... everyone's energy level is different. Also, depending on the type of work, etc. 12 hour shifts are pretty darn demanding, so maybe you can talk with work and see if there's some way you can do shorter shifts? Again... it will be different and what one person experiences, may have nothing to do with what the next person experiences. You may be just fine and can work while going through the chemo. I think most people find the worst part of chemo is you just get physically tired and need a nap when you least expect it... and that's what would concern me with your work because your shifts are such long ones. Obviously, you can't just go lie down when you get tired, and you certainly don't want to put your patients in any danger because you are too tired to be thinking totally clearly.
Now, it's none of my business, but as a Nurse, do you not have medical insurance to cover the bills... and do you have the option of Long Term Disability Insurance should you find you just can't work while on chemo? You have no idea of knowing how long it's going to take you to recover from surgery, and then the 6 months of chemo. Unfortunately, I can't really help you with the answers to your questions regarding taking time off work and the piling up of the bills. I'm in Canada and also happened to be working for an employer where Long Term Disability Insurance was an employee benefit... so these were not things that I actually had to think about. I know there will be others who come along and help you with answers, so I'll stop here
But, do come back with questions which I'm sure will start coming at you constantly as you go through this journey. And do let us know when you will be in for your surgery!!
Cheryl In Vancouver
Cheryl,
Unfortunately I was night shift full time and wanted day shift and part time was the only thing available, so no long term disability. I do have health insurance through my husband, just no income for me now. Hopefully the chemo won't be so bad so I can work, and when I do get back I will be a so much more understanding nurse. I am a much better nurse than patient!
Sandy0 -
Can you temporarily ask forMomof2plusteentwins said:Part time
Cheryl,
Unfortunately I was night shift full time and wanted day shift and part time was the only thing available, so no long term disability. I do have health insurance through my husband, just no income for me now. Hopefully the chemo won't be so bad so I can work, and when I do get back I will be a so much more understanding nurse. I am a much better nurse than patient!
Sandy
Can you temporarily ask for another position? Or a guy at my job asked and got per diem in his same position. Some places will work with you. He only comes in when he feels well enough. Also there are agencies that will help with rent/mortgage although it is usually a one time payment. My friend looked up some for me in NY although I haven't needed them. St. Vincent De Paul was one.0 -
I have not had chemo myselfMomof2plusteentwins said:Part time
Cheryl,
Unfortunately I was night shift full time and wanted day shift and part time was the only thing available, so no long term disability. I do have health insurance through my husband, just no income for me now. Hopefully the chemo won't be so bad so I can work, and when I do get back I will be a so much more understanding nurse. I am a much better nurse than patient!
Sandy
I have not had chemo myself so I do not know the feeling that comes with it. The guy at my job says some days he's fine, some days he feels bad and could care less about what work thinks.0 -
I had to leave my job, and
I had to leave my job, and like you, I really liked my job and my employers. But with all the surgeries, chemo and then "the unexpected", I could not give them what they deserved. So I took a leave of absence...
You're having a temp ilestomy and a rectal APR surgery right? Are you also having your appendix out and a hysterectomy? I did those things and it took time to recover. Then there was more chemo afterward as well.
If you look at this time as a time to heal, maybe it will help.
As far as the money, we quickly hit our deductible of $8000, and then insurance picked up the rest. Cancer is expensive!
We didn't spend much though, as I didn't feel like doing much of anything except being outdoors.
This isn't an easy time but you will find a way.
Hope this helps~0 -
Would they give you a leave of absence?
I took six months off from my work as a librarian to do surgery and chemo. For many people, that would be about enough time to get through treatment and then return to work. I know people who did continue to work during chemo, but i think it depends a lot on how severe your side effects are. This can vary quite a bit from one person to the next. I think if you can afford to take some time off, at least until you see how you react to the treatment, it might make the whole process a little easier. Sending strength your way-Ann0 -
Hard to give 100% to yourannalexandria said:Would they give you a leave of absence?
I took six months off from my work as a librarian to do surgery and chemo. For many people, that would be about enough time to get through treatment and then return to work. I know people who did continue to work during chemo, but i think it depends a lot on how severe your side effects are. This can vary quite a bit from one person to the next. I think if you can afford to take some time off, at least until you see how you react to the treatment, it might make the whole process a little easier. Sending strength your way-Ann
Hard to give 100% to your fight and job at the same time. Id take off if you can swing it.
So glad I have LTD insurance. Last 2 yrs have only worked 6 months and another surgery coming up in July.
My insurance co has me applied for SSDI (so they have to pay me less) being stage 4 Ive heard its automatic. If they approve me I wont be going back to work at all.
The income is less but nice not having the stress of work to deal with on top of all the rest.0 -
I have been very lucky....
I work in HR Systems.. so my work is on the internet and my company has allowed me to work from home and flex my hours.
I work for the #1 clinical drug trial company on the globe so they should be sympathetic to me. They work in the cancer world.
I did chemo and radiation prior to surgery and worked around that..
When I had my surgery I went out on leave.
Then when I did chemo after I worked again around it,.
I worked from both home and office when I felt up to it..
Luck was on my side this way..
I can see being a nurse would be difficult to work thru all this .. on your feet and long shifts.. and hours..
I hope you find a way to get this peacably..
Prayers and a Hug..
Donna0 -
Flexibility
As others have said, flexibility is very important. I would time chemo on a day (Friday or Wednesday) to lessen days off. Also, I was able to get Intermitent Disability which let me use the total number of weeks in pieces instead of all at once. That helped too.
Yeah, cancer takes up a lot of times it seems...
-phil0 -
Be Gentle with YourselfPhillieG said:Flexibility
As others have said, flexibility is very important. I would time chemo on a day (Friday or Wednesday) to lessen days off. Also, I was able to get Intermitent Disability which let me use the total number of weeks in pieces instead of all at once. That helped too.
Yeah, cancer takes up a lot of times it seems...
-phil
I call cancer my PT job. There were times though it was my FT job. My workplace was incredibly understanding and flexible. So much so, I don't feel I can ever leave! Being a nurse and a Mom adds to the complexity. Don't try and figure it out yourself. Talk with the people at work and see what they can offer even if it is not bedside nursing at this time. One of the challenges for me during treatment was my energy level was not dependable. That makes being on a permanent nursing rotation difficult. As hard as it is, try and trust that things will work out. Don't be afraid to say what you need and ask for help. People want to help.
It is not easy but somehow we get through it...and amaze even ourselves.
Cathleen Mary0 -
Cancer and $$$tommycat said:I had to leave my job, and
I had to leave my job, and like you, I really liked my job and my employers. But with all the surgeries, chemo and then "the unexpected", I could not give them what they deserved. So I took a leave of absence...
You're having a temp ilestomy and a rectal APR surgery right? Are you also having your appendix out and a hysterectomy? I did those things and it took time to recover. Then there was more chemo afterward as well.
If you look at this time as a time to heal, maybe it will help.
As far as the money, we quickly hit our deductible of $8000, and then insurance picked up the rest. Cancer is expensive!
We didn't spend much though, as I didn't feel like doing much of anything except being outdoors.
This isn't an easy time but you will find a way.
Hope this helps~
Tommy,
You sure hammered that nail about cancer being expensive. In two years of treatment I've come close to the same amount for all of my college expenses combined. Just to give an idea of what that's like, and without posting my CV, there's a good reason why my nick name is Doc. When I was diagnosed, I had just completed my first year towards my second MA and had to abandon that three courses and the Comps away for that degree. Now I'm halfway towards my third BA.
To tie this in with the topic of discussion, is FMLA a possibility for the original poster? (Sorry, I had chemo today and I can't remember who started this thread.) When I got my dx, I had been on disability for 11 years and had gone back to school to fill in the time. I've been asked by several people why, with fighting cancer on top of my low back and hip problems, I'm putting myself through the stress of academics. The answer is quite simple,at least to me: I NEED something to fill in the days without being a couch potato and dwelling on having cancer all day long. The stress of that is much more than the stress of school work.
Doc0 -
you're the highest priority
Once you get into your 24 treatments I would think it is going to be difficult to work fultime. You can probably get disability. This would help on the bills. Withvdisability you can still earn just check with social security. Then check with you employer and if they aren't flexible check around because usually nursing is in demand. You come first so you'll need your rest. Pray everything works out. Jeff0 -
I am one of the few very
I am one of the few very fortunate ones. I work for a family owned company and they have always let me take as much time off as I needed with pay. They have been working with me through 4 surgeries and 32 rouns of chemo not to mention all of the testing and doctors visits. I hear about so many people who have lost their jobs because of cancer. There should be laws against that.0 -
Working Full Time
I think you just do what you have to do. I have continued to work full time with the exception of being off for surgeries or hosptial stays. I go in the hospital get out and go right back to work. I am a single paycheck family and don't have the choice to quit my job. Luckily I had a lot of sick time saved and vacation time so to this point it has all worked out okay. FMLA is a good thing but it doesn't pay the bills. Long Term Disability is good too but it is such a cut in pay I could not afford to live on it. But when all is said and done, I think work has been what has kept me so strong and feeling so well. I work a 50+ hour work week and exercise daily. This is what has kept the fatigue away. There are days that I come straight home from work and go right to bed but I know I have to keep on going. Quitting work was just never an option.0 -
I'm fortunatejanderson1964 said:I am one of the few very
I am one of the few very fortunate ones. I work for a family owned company and they have always let me take as much time off as I needed with pay. They have been working with me through 4 surgeries and 32 rouns of chemo not to mention all of the testing and doctors visits. I hear about so many people who have lost their jobs because of cancer. There should be laws against that.
that I'm a realtor and have tons of flexibility. I can even make calls and email while I'm getting an infusion. And I've mentioned on here before that "God has a sense of humor," in that as soon as I was diagnosed, my business went through the roof. I've never been busier and have worked way too many 60 hour weeks. But that's good, income-wise, and keeping my mind occupied. But I don't know how I could handle a regular schedule. You'd have to have a very understanding company to allow all the time away for the crap we have to do (no pun intended). I do worry about the cumulative effect of chemo and that I may get to the point that I'll have to stop and apply for SSDI. But for now, it's full speed ahead. Hope you can find a path that allows you to work when you want and can. Hugs, Dan0 -
"How?"
It gets harder the longer you have cancer. As the years mount up, the body and mind takes alot of pounding during that time, so it gets harder and harder to do.
I've had cancer 3x...had 4 major surgeries...51x chemo...55x radiation....and had to leave work 5x on leave for surgeries and treatments.
Surgery always takes you out of work....treatments can make you make miss some work and sometimes alot of work....radiation will catch you and you won't be able to work towards the end of treatments.
And with chemo...Folfox I was able to mostly work but missed a couple of days each infusiion....with Folfiri, I tried to come back and work and did for about 6-weeks, but I was so sick, I could not stand it...and subsequently had to leave again to finish up the last 3tx's.
I still work....but have spent time on LTD and the loss of income does hurt...you built your life around 100%, so dropping to 50-60% is a huge hit...but when you're sick and can't do it - you can't do it....and you will know whether or not you can do it.
As for "How to Keep Working?"
So far, I'm still on the job through all of this....there may come a day when cancer might "retire" me...from where my mind and body is, that would be almost welcome....I'm so tired....
I'm looking for a 'hall-pass' at this point in my life, but I can't afford one....I need to work to pay on all the medical bills...and to keep my insurance....but over time, job satisfaction becomes less and less a factor for me. It just seems to steal away the good days that I've gained by fighting. Life goes around me while I give my good hours to work
I've found that as we get older and with all the pounding that cancer, surgeries and treatments bring with it - I feel like I'm a square peg trying to fit into the round hole of normal life, including career.
It's hard to keep ringing the bill every day and being a "Have-To" person...this perspective brought to you through the eyes of an 8-year cancer veteran.
-Craig0 -
IndividualSundanceh said:"How?"
It gets harder the longer you have cancer. As the years mount up, the body and mind takes alot of pounding during that time, so it gets harder and harder to do.
I've had cancer 3x...had 4 major surgeries...51x chemo...55x radiation....and had to leave work 5x on leave for surgeries and treatments.
Surgery always takes you out of work....treatments can make you make miss some work and sometimes alot of work....radiation will catch you and you won't be able to work towards the end of treatments.
And with chemo...Folfox I was able to mostly work but missed a couple of days each infusiion....with Folfiri, I tried to come back and work and did for about 6-weeks, but I was so sick, I could not stand it...and subsequently had to leave again to finish up the last 3tx's.
I still work....but have spent time on LTD and the loss of income does hurt...you built your life around 100%, so dropping to 50-60% is a huge hit...but when you're sick and can't do it - you can't do it....and you will know whether or not you can do it.
As for "How to Keep Working?"
So far, I'm still on the job through all of this....there may come a day when cancer might "retire" me...from where my mind and body is, that would be almost welcome....I'm so tired....
I'm looking for a 'hall-pass' at this point in my life, but I can't afford one....I need to work to pay on all the medical bills...and to keep my insurance....but over time, job satisfaction becomes less and less a factor for me. It just seems to steal away the good days that I've gained by fighting. Life goes around me while I give my good hours to work
I've found that as we get older and with all the pounding that cancer, surgeries and treatments bring with it - I feel like I'm a square peg trying to fit into the round hole of normal life, including career.
It's hard to keep ringing the bill every day and being a "Have-To" person...this perspective brought to you through the eyes of an 8-year cancer veteran.
-Craig
Ultimately it is up to yo to assess what is right for your situation. I have been desparate to keep work up and am still fulltime with a day of working at home doing my admin- the main motivation is that despite being a consultant psychiatrist treating 'mad' people all day that is the most normal part of my life that remains fairly untouched by cancer. Patients still ltreat me the same and know nothing and the routine and role I have there is very useful escape from being a 'cancer patient' fulltime.
I found the fatigue both with chemo and radiotehrapy hard but I also found that at times 'giving in' to it made me feel no better thatn fighting it and keeping active with work and still going to the gym etc. It isn't always possibel and you do need enough rest but I don't think despite all you are facing it has to be inevitable you will give up work.
We are all individual and make the judgement that is right for you- then make the most of it and get on with living. The cancer, the treatments,the appointments, teh side effect cannot become our lives.
steve0 -
It can be tough!!
I am also a nurse and worked full time during my radiation and chemo treatments. It wasnt easy but I did it. It gave me my usual routine. I worked carrying a chemo pump that was on for 6 days a week. I drove myself to my 25 radiation treatments after work each day. I work in interventional radiology. If I hadnt worked I would have sat home and cried each day. My family helped out alot so I wasnt doing much around the house. I did take time off when I had my surgeries. For me it worked, but I know it isnt easy and not everyone can work during treatments.
Perhaps when you are feeling better you can go back to work.
Maureen0 -
WOW MaureenMoesimo said:It can be tough!!
I am also a nurse and worked full time during my radiation and chemo treatments. It wasnt easy but I did it. It gave me my usual routine. I worked carrying a chemo pump that was on for 6 days a week. I drove myself to my 25 radiation treatments after work each day. I work in interventional radiology. If I hadnt worked I would have sat home and cried each day. My family helped out alot so I wasnt doing much around the house. I did take time off when I had my surgeries. For me it worked, but I know it isnt easy and not everyone can work during treatments.
Perhaps when you are feeling better you can go back to work.
Maureen
I also did the 5 weeks chemo & radiation but had a few snags - my port started leaking in the middle of the night the first week, then I got a picc line and got a blood clot and was in the hospital for 2 days. Now picc is out and seeing surgeon Friday, hopefully things will go smoother when I get another port and have my surgery within the next couple weeks. Going back to work would sure help the head - get my mind off terrible things.
Thanks,
Sandy0 -
husband still working
My husband is still working. He was diagnosed in October, did the chemo and radiation, had the surgery in February was out of work for about 3 weeks. Went back to work and is now doing chemo and is working through the whole thing. He has a very understanding boss and he gets the work done so that is all his boss cares about. He has a great attitude about all of this and I think a lot has to do with working and getting his mind off of it. He also is currently playing baseball even though he is doing chemo. He is quite amazing. He doesn't have much side effects, tired for a few days and sensitivity to the cold. If he had worse symptoms he wouldn't be able to do what he is doing.
Michele0
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