If you worked full-time at diagnosis, was employer sympathetic to time out beyond FMLA?

Welcome †o the board. I am very sorry that you have been diagnosed and will undergo a agressive treatments. My story is a similar in part, a professional job, was involved in a lot of travel, presentations ect.

Iwas diagnosed intitially in May of 2008. I have had several surgeries for breast, including mastectomy and reconstruction. I was working up until surgery and was at work the day before my mastectomy. My emploer at that time had a very good benefit program. Initially I took 10 sick days, than I was on short-term disability for 6 months during 6 cycles of Chemo, then took my vocations days for part of radiation treatments, and then filed for FMLA. My doctor (primary care who did most of required papaer work) supported me all the way through. It was required to send monthly updates to HR for extention of benefits. I have had an interview with HR and medical professional conformimg my situation, was not fun, however required by policy. All information suppose to keep confedential. Initially I spoke with My manager (male), about serious health conditios and upcoming surgery and medical leave. I was doing some part -time from home,that did help me to extend my benefits. Well inventially all of the abouve cost me my job, I was laid off as a part of workforce reduction on my last day of radiation treatment. I never regret my decision to take time off and still belive it did help me a lot. I never discussed steps of my treatment with my co-workers, mostely male, I did not feel comfortable. 

After I recovered from all of my treatment, I found another job in 2010. After Two two years on my new job I had recurrence. My treatment was Chemo first. My oncologist suggested not to file for FMLA and see if I can tolerate and managed. I spoke with my manager without disclosing detals and told him that I could take single days off or work from home, and he was ok with it. My current company does not have formal "sick days", it is honor system which is hard and sometime I am taking vocation days .

 You are the one who know your work enviroment. People react differentely and it is hard to predict. Many of survivors on this board were surrounded by love and compassionethat at work that helped them to fight and undergo treatments. Few have had issues, I am amoung those. Everyone experience is unique and similar at the same time. Your state law can play role as well. You can PM me if you have specific questions

Best luck to you with all of your treatments. Keep us posted  

Sorry for you diagnosis.

I was diagnosed in 2009 with IDC. ER+/PR+, Her 2+. Stage 2a. I had a lumpectomy, 6 rounds of chemo and 33 sessions of radiation. I was very lucky because my boss was a BC survivor, so she knew exactly what I was going through. Another plus was that I worked for the Federal Govenment and had accrued sick leave and annual leave. Chemo was very hard on me and for about a week and up to two weeks after each treatment I was not able to work at all. I would work when I could and never failed to complete all of my duties. During radiation I scheduled my treatments for the afternoon and worked in the mornings. I had enough sick leave to cover all of the time that I missed from work and never had to request leave donations or use FMLA. I retired from Civil service in Sep 2010 and began training my replacement while going through radiation. I have been NED since completing rads in July of 2010.

Sending Hugs and Prayers

Donna

camul said:

Hi Dee5678
No my company went strictly by the rules. Knowingnthis, went back to work with a trash can and the big box of liners from costco. First time around I ended the year with only a few daysleft og FMLA. They told me when I went back, no special considerations would be made for me and they would be watching. I used short term disability the first 7 weeks and went back to work 5 weeks following mast. and 3 days after 1st chemo.
Second time around, was diagnosed Sept 9. That ended up being my last day, after 13 years. I was going to go back. My director called and we hadnlunch. Brought along a co-worker. My director, who is a friend, warned me that if I came back, she was already informed that because I missed one stst for the month of Sept. she was instructed to write me up. She said I was now considered a liaability to the company. She was a friend and I loved that she gave me a heads up! I was not able to work full time. I have stage iv and myhips and tailbone were so involved that there was no way I could have sat 40 hours a week. I was in denial about my prognosis. I knew I was terminal, yet I was on weekly chemo, and on the good 2 days a week, I felt like I could do the job, It was just the other 5 that were an issue.
But no, working in a union environment for the phone company, there were no exceptions.
So I went on Medicare at less than a 3rd of my wages! To this day, when I have good days, I think I would be able to work! lol.... the good days are so few and I know I did the right thing.
Good luck, I hope you work for a company that maay be able to accomadate your needs better.

Carol

I had just moved and started a brand new job though I knew in my soul something was terribly wrong.  After just 6 months in very physical career in manufacturing I was no long able to work.  Stage 3 with 11 out of 21 lymphnodes positive after 10 years almost of seeking Relief.  Lucky I moved to the Province that had the highest success rate knowing inside I couldn't do this alone and my son was in bad place. 

Not everyone has great time of it and I always am in awe of the women who continue to work day after day and still find the energy to take care of their families.  I had to get 1200 hours from time started till the following April.  I didn't even work overtime because I was just too ill and you know I made it with 1211 or 07 hours imagine.  I think the Human Rights Manager was an incredible man and he made cancer treatment easy.  Getting back to work was a whole different thing.  They wanted to do everything they could not to allow me to come back though still very productive and actually helped them to save 30 million dollars a year through my auditing skills.

I know one thing and this is it...  We all need to do what is necessary to get through this practically unscathed if we can.  I tell people to make sure you take care of yourself first without that nothing else matters.  Cancer visits us because of something and knowing what we were doing before obviously wasn't working well for us.  Resigning and moving forward sometimes is the best we can do for ourselves.

Tara

Some things to know.  Your employer must work with you if your physician puts limitations on your work.  Most Human Resource departments these days are neither helpful nor knowledgeable.  I had my HR tell me I had to come back all or none.  My sister, who is a pshysician, informed me that this was not true and employers have to accommodate you (as much as possible) if you have a disability.

"Saving your job
Most people are reluctant to tell their employer about a serious illness, fearing it may jeopardize their income. However, not telling your employer could also jeopardize your future. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) only provides legal protection if your employer knows that you have a disability. If your illness adversely affects your job performance and your employer has no knowledge of it, you could be fired with no legal recourse.

Employer-provided accommodations.   Under the ADA, once you tell your employer about your disability, you are entitled to certain “reasonable” accommodations, such as modifying your work schedule, altering some of your nonessential job duties, changing your physical work space, and providing special equipment. Your employer is required to make these accommodations unless it can be proven that they would be an “undue hardship,” which varies given the size and financial resources of the company.

Before you tell your employer about your disability, first speak with your doctor to determine whether accommodations would even enable you to continue working. If the answer is yes, secure a note from your doctor.

If you can’t perform your job duties with an accommodation, your employer can generally fire you. The ADA only applies to people who can perform the duties of their job—with or without an accommodation. If you can’t perform your job duties, then you should investigate your company’s disability and/or retirement benefits. Many companies also have pension plans that permit either early or disability retirement."

http://www.cfids.org/archives/2001/2001-1-article02.asp

My advice is to have a real heart-to-heart talk with your oncologist about this.  He or she will be the key in obtaining a letter informing your employer of what tasks you are able to perform and how many hours you can realistically work.  I was shocked when I talked with my oncologist that he bluntly told me I shouldn't work anymore.  Of course, with bone, ling and liver mets, it was sort of duh, but I had never considered not working at that time.  Now, I am grateful because chemo really knocked the stuffing out of me and, being in healthcare, it is hard for my employer to be able to accommodate me.

If your onc says, at any point that working is not and option, begin to apply for disability at once.  It is not the fastest process.  My SS disability was approved pretty quickly (I am guessing less than 8 weeks).  My employer's longterm disablity took longer and they kept demanding more info.  I finally copied all of my scans and biopsy reports and sent a letter to my CEO as well as HR saying, if you are going to give me a hard time with 3 mets, who do you help?  My approval came about a week later.

Be determined and advocate for yourself IN WRITING.  If you can't do it, have someone help you.  I had friends, family and my husband all help me because I was having a rough time.

Good luck and I hope some of this helps!