Working/Job Search while dealing with smRCC

dhs1963
dhs1963 Member Posts: 513
in Kidney Cancer #1

Medically, I have no evidence of cancer at the moment.  However, I have pain from both my Naphrectomy and the wedge resection and am receiving care for the pain.  (it is pretty severe at times).

Professionally, my buisiness area is severely impacted by cuts in the federal budget.  My company is contracting, eople around me are being let go.  I am one of the top people in my field, but it is a small field, and most of the people are my friends and kow about my medical situation.

So, I can not hide the fact that I have cancer, and am in reduced capacity at the moment -- the pain gets to me after a few hourse, but I am largely paid to think rather than physically do.  I do not have the energy to look for a job at the moment.  

I probably could qualify for dissability insurance, based on the chronic pain and the likelyhood of future disease (sarcomitiod differentiation increases the odds substationally), but I want to be productive.  

I am wondering if anyone else has dealt with job searches in this time?

Comments

  • AprilandChuck
    AprilandChuck Member Posts: 110
    #2
    You have a disability

    We were given a book about Kidney Cancer from our oncologist when Chuck was first diagnosed...in it it was edplained that people who have rcc are disabled..I am not telling you this because I am pushing disabilty lol I am telling you this because the book also said tnat if an employer hires you with the disability they may be eligible for a tax credit for you...so the fact you are trained in a specialized feild plus the tax credit may make it easier for you to find a job..you could call the American Cancer Society..or the irs about the tax credit or your prospective employer could..

  • BLKJAK
    BLKJAK Member Posts: 108
    #3
    Working

    Hi dhs1963,

     

    Is your current job in jeopardy? Have you been there a long time? I haven't had any surgery but I do still work full time. I take 20mg of Oxycontin 2x a day and then have 5mg Oxycodone for the times when the pain escalates and I need some extra immediate relief. I have been with my employer for 13+ years and he is awesome. He has been behind me since day one of my RCC journey, calling, writing and praying. I am allowed to work from home when I need to and I'm allowed to go home and take a nap if I get too exhausted while working. I am very blessed by this. I would hope your employer would be supportive to you. Eventually you'll heal up and be strong again. It will take time. I don't think any employer would want to be know as the one who fired someone for having cancer. Are you allowed to work from home or set your own hours? This might make it possible for you to be more productive and of more value to your employer. Have you had a 1 on 1 with your boss to find out their thoughts on the situation overall?

    I wish you the best in your recovery and your future.

  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #4
    BLKJAK said:

    Working

    Hi dhs1963,

     

    Is your current job in jeopardy? Have you been there a long time? I haven't had any surgery but I do still work full time. I take 20mg of Oxycontin 2x a day and then have 5mg Oxycodone for the times when the pain escalates and I need some extra immediate relief. I have been with my employer for 13+ years and he is awesome. He has been behind me since day one of my RCC journey, calling, writing and praying. I am allowed to work from home when I need to and I'm allowed to go home and take a nap if I get too exhausted while working. I am very blessed by this. I would hope your employer would be supportive to you. Eventually you'll heal up and be strong again. It will take time. I don't think any employer would want to be know as the one who fired someone for having cancer. Are you allowed to work from home or set your own hours? This might make it possible for you to be more productive and of more value to your employer. Have you had a 1 on 1 with your boss to find out their thoughts on the situation overall?

    I wish you the best in your recovery and your future.

    Working

    It's good to hear such a cheering story about a decent employer.  I'm guessing that he values your work highly enough to bend over backwards to accommodate your needs, which speaks well for you too!

    The advice you've given is very sensible and quite a lot of other folks here who are still working may find your suggestions extremely helpful.

  • dhs1963
    dhs1963 Member Posts: 513
    #5
    BLKJAK said:

    Working

    Hi dhs1963,

     

    Is your current job in jeopardy? Have you been there a long time? I haven't had any surgery but I do still work full time. I take 20mg of Oxycontin 2x a day and then have 5mg Oxycodone for the times when the pain escalates and I need some extra immediate relief. I have been with my employer for 13+ years and he is awesome. He has been behind me since day one of my RCC journey, calling, writing and praying. I am allowed to work from home when I need to and I'm allowed to go home and take a nap if I get too exhausted while working. I am very blessed by this. I would hope your employer would be supportive to you. Eventually you'll heal up and be strong again. It will take time. I don't think any employer would want to be know as the one who fired someone for having cancer. Are you allowed to work from home or set your own hours? This might make it possible for you to be more productive and of more value to your employer. Have you had a 1 on 1 with your boss to find out their thoughts on the situation overall?

    I wish you the best in your recovery and your future.

    My job is in jeopardy not from illness

    I work as a government contractor.  Our project is ending in three weeks because of budget cuts.  I (and thre rest of my team) may be let go at tht point.  I have had this job for 18 years.  My job requires me to work on site, but that really isn't the problem.

     

    Everyone at work has been very flexible and supportive.  But, my customer's budget is being eliminated.  I have to find new work either within or outside the company.  

  • dhs1963
    dhs1963 Member Posts: 513
    #6
    dhs1963 said:

    My job is in jeopardy not from illness

    I work as a government contractor.  Our project is ending in three weeks because of budget cuts.  I (and thre rest of my team) may be let go at tht point.  I have had this job for 18 years.  My job requires me to work on site, but that really isn't the problem.

     

    Everyone at work has been very flexible and supportive.  But, my customer's budget is being eliminated.  I have to find new work either within or outside the company.  

    It is morning now...I can write clearer

    The prior post is an example of me in the end of day.  

     

    My situation is the company I work for (18 years) is in business to sell peoples time to cutomers for technical and scientific servies.  Our primary customer is the US Federal Governement.  The federal government is cutting spending due to sequestration (there have been other threads about  the impact of sequestration on the maintencene of medical equipment at the VA).

    The company is big: 40,000 employees.  Possibly the bigest company you have never heard of.  We are reducing costs everywhere (my line manager was just layed off to same money).  On top of that, the contract I work on ends on 6/30, and the customer is not getting more money for followup -- the money is part of the sequestration cuts.  So, I can find another project to work on in the company, or change jobs.  Or, possibly go on disability.  With the budget cuts, the company will not hold us on company funds.  

    My management and coworkers have been great as I have been dealing with the cancer.  I was given all the time I need to recover.  And people have been flexible with medical issues.  Unfortuantely, the nature of my work prevents me from working at home, the the work site is only 15 minutes away.

    The other companies that do work in my area of specialization (there are about 10  people that do work similar to what I do) are in the same situation.  So, finding a job in my direct field is going to be hard.  I will have to look further from my field.  That is where the job search becomes impossible (or difficult).  I physically can not go on a 6 hr interview right now.  I can do my job (and do it well), but I can not find another job.  Does that make me disabled?  or chronically unemployed?

  • AprilandChuck
    AprilandChuck Member Posts: 110
    #7
    dhs1963 said:

    It is morning now...I can write clearer

    The prior post is an example of me in the end of day.  

     

    My situation is the company I work for (18 years) is in business to sell peoples time to cutomers for technical and scientific servies.  Our primary customer is the US Federal Governement.  The federal government is cutting spending due to sequestration (there have been other threads about  the impact of sequestration on the maintencene of medical equipment at the VA).

    The company is big: 40,000 employees.  Possibly the bigest company you have never heard of.  We are reducing costs everywhere (my line manager was just layed off to same money).  On top of that, the contract I work on ends on 6/30, and the customer is not getting more money for followup -- the money is part of the sequestration cuts.  So, I can find another project to work on in the company, or change jobs.  Or, possibly go on disability.  With the budget cuts, the company will not hold us on company funds.  

    My management and coworkers have been great as I have been dealing with the cancer.  I was given all the time I need to recover.  And people have been flexible with medical issues.  Unfortuantely, the nature of my work prevents me from working at home, the the work site is only 15 minutes away.

    The other companies that do work in my area of specialization (there are about 10  people that do work similar to what I do) are in the same situation.  So, finding a job in my direct field is going to be hard.  I will have to look further from my field.  That is where the job search becomes impossible (or difficult).  I physically can not go on a 6 hr interview right now.  I can do my job (and do it well), but I can not find another job.  Does that make me disabled?  or chronically unemployed?

    DISABLED

    DISABLED

  • MDCinSC
    MDCinSC Member Posts: 574
    #8
    dhs1963 said:

    It is morning now...I can write clearer

    The prior post is an example of me in the end of day.  

     

    My situation is the company I work for (18 years) is in business to sell peoples time to cutomers for technical and scientific servies.  Our primary customer is the US Federal Governement.  The federal government is cutting spending due to sequestration (there have been other threads about  the impact of sequestration on the maintencene of medical equipment at the VA).

    The company is big: 40,000 employees.  Possibly the bigest company you have never heard of.  We are reducing costs everywhere (my line manager was just layed off to same money).  On top of that, the contract I work on ends on 6/30, and the customer is not getting more money for followup -- the money is part of the sequestration cuts.  So, I can find another project to work on in the company, or change jobs.  Or, possibly go on disability.  With the budget cuts, the company will not hold us on company funds.  

    My management and coworkers have been great as I have been dealing with the cancer.  I was given all the time I need to recover.  And people have been flexible with medical issues.  Unfortuantely, the nature of my work prevents me from working at home, the the work site is only 15 minutes away.

    The other companies that do work in my area of specialization (there are about 10  people that do work similar to what I do) are in the same situation.  So, finding a job in my direct field is going to be hard.  I will have to look further from my field.  That is where the job search becomes impossible (or difficult).  I physically can not go on a 6 hr interview right now.  I can do my job (and do it well), but I can not find another job.  Does that make me disabled?  or chronically unemployed?

    I wish there was another word!

    It conjurs up all the negative stereotypes we keep hearing bantered about, but given the vocabulary of today, disabled will likely have to suffice. (Geez, and I was just starting to lose my 5 day depression!)

    I would seriously start looking into the things AprilandChuck were discussing.  Their suggestions certainly have me thinking! I've been teaching part time as an adjunct professor for so long, with no hope of a full time gig on the horizon that I'll take any advantage this may offer.

    Hang in!

    Michael

     

     

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