Prayers needed update

I hope the new chemotherapy is more effective.  Good question about you job.  I've faced that too at times.  Work can be helpful (insurance - taking your mind off your health if only for a little while).  On the other hand, to have more time to promote your health (exercise etc) and doing things you've put off can be helpful too.  I'm sure you'll make the right decision for you. 

YoVita said:

So sorry about the news

I hope the new chemotherapy is more effective.  Good question about you job.  I've faced that too at times.  Work can be helpful (insurance - taking your mind off your health if only for a little while).  On the other hand, to have more time to promote your health (exercise etc) and doing things you've put off can be helpful too.  I'm sure you'll make the right decision for you. 

Sheesh Vicki,  I was sooooo hoping your scans were showing that chemo. was working for you        Will the new chemo regimine be at the full dose or will it  be at a reduced dose still???   I don't know anything about vectibix,  does it affect your platelets??     I think Phil is on this,  I'm sure he can offer you some sound advice as to side effects and how to manage them.       Thanks for posting your results,  I was thinking of you first thing this morning and wondering.     I can't really comment about work....I work, it takes my mind off things.....although today I found out someone is off "sick"  and I don't want to be exposed to what's going around!

Lovekitties said:

So sorry

So sorry to hear that the news was not better.

Prayers that the new treatment plan is very effective and brings great results.

As for work, it all depends...only you know your financial and insurance situation.

If you determine that leaving is your best choice for now, just make sure to fill your days with good stuff. 

Hugs,

Marie who loves kitties

Sorry Vicki.

I meant to ask you a while back if you could take erbitux...you hadn't mentioned it.   Hope this really helps, it has helped so many.

Vicki, Sending you Light and Love!!! Hope this new treatment will prove more effective. God Bless!  And I Pray that God will guide you on your work/no work decision.

Rather than quit outright....consider this.

I don't know what type of company you work for...but you could see if you had STD available to use at your work.  The types of policies that companies can vary...I've had some bad ones...and the one I've got now is pretty good. 

Some will cover you %100 for the first 13-weeks....and then it switches to LTD under the STD plan...which would mean that you could still earn 50-60% of what your gross pay was.....that would take you out to the full six-months.....after that real LTD would kick in from the company provider...in other words, the company would no longer be paying you, but the insurance would be covering you....they would take out your government taxes and stuff.....but you would still have to pay for your company benefits, 401-k, health, etc.

That can go up to 1-year....after a year, they usually terminate you automatically. 

FMLA can be used as job protection from all of this...up to a year....it's a rolling calendar of 12-months...depending on when you leave...come back...etc.

The way this works:

The first 3-months, they HAVE TO hold your current position, seniority, and pay etc...

Between 3-6 months, they could move you to another area....with same pay etc....just a different job position, but you retain what you've already worked for.

After 12-months, FMLA would expire....and since the company is in business...to do business...they move on

So, Vicki...before I'd yank the plug out of the wall permanently...well, I wouldn't do it just yet....if for no other reason than INSURANCE!

You think you got problems now?  Try going without insurance, or with over-inflated Cobra etc. 

Long story short.....take a leave of absence...and see where this fight goes...you'll know what to do as you see where the fight is going. 

I've worked through chemo and some radiation treatments etc....there are no ribbons or awards....just insurance:)

BTW, if you get STD and/or LTD.....one thing I learned....you have to be back at work for 6-MONTHS.....or they just add the time to what you already took.

EX:  You take 3 of 6 months....come back one month....and leave again.......result is they will begin to add the new time to the 3-months.....whereas if you could stay back 6-months, it would "Reset" the clock back to zero for that stuff......however, the FMLA still runs on a rolling basis....so you might be slightly off.

FMLA means job protection (as outlined above)....it's not paid time off...just covers your backside for those precious months. 

Without FMLA protection, the company has the discretion to fire you.....just depends on what you're standing is with them....how important is the job...and how they want to handle it.

The cold truth is they have a business to run....I get that. 

Doesn't make our life easier though.....we simply have to Adapt and Overcome.

Hope this helps, Vicki....Irinotecan can be a monster, but highly effective....you should have a better time with platelets.....and remember you can be doing this with your platelets in the 50's......don't let this guy bamboozle you on that one...I was 50's and 60's the whole way through...didn't stop me.

Still only in the low 70's.....over 18 months out of my last treatment.

Hugs!!!!!!!!!

-Craig

HI Vicki,

I have been on Irenotecan and Vectibix from May to November...  I will not lie.. I hated Oxycialplatin for the neuropathy.. but Irenotecan made my loose my hair and that really killed my spirits....so please be prepared .. I don't have liver mets yet.. but my doc tells me you can live a long time on this routine on and off..

But to me the key is our Spirit and when we loose that.. we are lost...

Sundance/Craig has a great posting about FLMA and STL.. but please check with your job and state to be sure how your works.. I think often of work and needing to make a change to manage this..

Prayers are always sent for all my friends here.. Love you Donna

Hi there. I'm at,exactly the same place. Just yesterday onc put me on irrinotecan plus erbitUx.  I have had 12 cycles do irrotecan plus folfox and lung tumors just starting to grumble,again. Now im on the irr plus erbitex which onc said works farrrr better than irr aalone he said side effect is acne rash which means it should be working.  che,o is every fortnight and erbitex weekly.  Lets beat the crap outta this.  Luv and prayers for u too!