Changing jobs after cancer

Steve, 

I hear you loud and clear. I was a self employed electrician, had a business partner. Cancer hit me and things went down hill fast with the business, partner quit on me. Luckily he did return to finish the jobs we started and was done. I knew that once I reached a certain age, I was going to go to a Big Box store that had an electrical department. So, after I built my energy level back up roughly 8 months after surgery and treatments, I was hired.

Granted, I had effects from the Radiation and surgery. I did have issues with some words, but quickly learned which ones caused me trouble and avoided them in the future. I also have no saliva, so I kept a small bottle of water with me at all times. I chewed sugar free gum as it helped keep some moisture in my mouth while I talked with the customers. I enjoyed my job, but eventually, my energy levels started to decline, so I retired as I was old enough. 

You sound like you have a good work ethic, so you will continue to work somewhere no matter what career path you take. 

My Best to You and Everyone Here

The speech therapist at MSK told me I would recover about 90% of my speeh.  I recall making a comment like, well that will improve in time, right?  And she said, uh, no, not really.  I was mega-depressed that week since clarity and an excellent speaking voice is a big part of my job in our law firm; my co-workers did an amazing job of picking up my slack while the mouth ulcerations healed post-rads.  I am doing pretty well now but still lisp a bit and slur when producing certain sounds.  The trick is to go slow and deliberate...don't go with your pre-surgery pattern, just take it easy.  When sales clerks or taxi drivers, etc. say "what?" or "huh?" I just say, oh I had some oral surgery and blow it off.  I def think the therapist was wrong because I can see a real improvement in tone and clarity since July of last year.  I have to admit, though, that I don't do the exercises (my bad).  And yes, I've thought about the day when I may have to interview for a new spot (hope that day is long in coming) and I've decided to just go with it...probably not hit the interviewer with "I had half my tongue removed and am a cancer survivor" (TMI), more something like "I had some oral surgery awhile back but I've got no problem communicating."  I fully believe that we'll be ready when the time comes to ace it! 

I was very blessed to work for a company and people who stood right by me through treatment twice. They set me up to work from home on days I did not feel like coming in and never questions any of my work. On days I did come in and started feeling bad I would lay my head down on my desk and they made sure no one would disturb me. I works there 25 years before I got too bad to finally have to retire. It is hard to fine companies and people like that so you might want to think about that if you are working for a caring company.

Just my take

Tim

My husband had jaw cancer several years ago (he's now in his early 50's) and currently has "stable" mets to his lungs.  He has thought about job changes over the last several years; however, his company has excellent benefits and has really been good to him.  Unfortunately for us, as the parents of three kids, his desire for a change is overshadowed by practicalities.  He has life insurance through his company. Would he be uninsurable elsewhere?  Also, his health insurance is second to none, and with the current state of health insurance in general, don't want to risk it.   We had to ask ourselves some very heavy questions. The benefits of moving positions did not outweigh the benefits of staying.