Worried about work and time off

sattaylor
sattaylor Member Posts: 1
in Breast Cancer #1

Hello:

I am new here.  I am so worried about work. Just diagnosed and don't even know what to be thinking!!!  I am single.  I am employed full time with good health insurance.  I do have a little vacation and sick time, but I don't have any other benefits.  No FMLA, short term or long term disablility.  I work for a small family run business with only 4 people.  I have not even told them about my diagnosis yet.  I am so worried about what will happen if I become very sick and have to miss a lot of work.  I think they will be understanding about me missing some work, but there has to be a limitation to their kindness.  I don't know what to expect in the future.  If I have to be off work for any exended period of time, I will not get paid. It's just me.  In live paycheck to paycheck the way it is.  If I even missed a week of work, I would not be able to keep up with my bills.  I am in a panic!  Could they fire me for missing work?  Then I would be out of health insurance.  I'm scare to death.  Should I look into buying private short-term/long-term disabiltiy insurance.  I don't have life insurnace either. Is it even possible to get such benefits once you have been diagnosed?  i would think they would base eligibility based on your medical history.  Please give me some feedback.  Thank you.  

Comments

  • jennerrator
    jennerrator Member Posts: 10
    #2
    Ok...breath...I just went through this...

    First off, very sorry to hear you are going through something! Second, do you have family or friends that you could stay with if things got to that point (long time off work)?

    I also work for a small family business like you but have been here going on 15 years so that helped and I didn't have a clue how long I was going to have off during my situitation...and unfortunately no one can say what others are going to deal with. Not to mention how employers are going to handle thngs. At some stage, you might have to tell them and just be honest and hopefully they are legit folks!

    Right now, you seem on top of stuff and what you need to try and handle but don't let it cause you more stress than you need.

    I apologize that I'm not sure how different states are about disability etc...but I'm in Cali and I just had to apply for disibility until I went back to work.

    I hope someone else knows exactly what to do in your situation...hang in there and stay positive.

     

     

  • Butt
    Butt Member Posts: 352 Member
    #3

    You can’t buy those insurances because you have been diagnosed. Yea, they can let you go from work because they need to keep the business going and need someone who will be there for them. I work a bit but it is very hard. 

  • Rosegardengal
    Rosegardengal Member Posts: 2 Member
    edited April 2019 #4
    Sorry to hear about your

    Sorry to hear about your diagnosis and hope all works out for you in the end. Maybe if you ask your employers they would be open to you working from home sometimes. It frees up a lot of energy when you don't need to shower, dress, and hop in the car to drive to work. Just a thought....good luck to you. Also, check with your cancer social worker as they may be able to help you figure out how to navigate through some of your concerns.

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    #5
    be kind to yourself..

    you may have to turn to state aid for medical assistance and family for a season.  Depends on what your having done.  It is hard but you gotta fight and fight hard.

    Hugs and prayers,

    Annie

  • Elaine_wi
    Elaine_wi Member Posts: 124 Member
    #6
    There is help

    I panicked about a lot of things when I first got diagnosed. I had a a cancer nurse navigator who always told me, "Don't create monsters in your head that aren't there". She was right. Don't despair - there are a lot of organizations that offer help and advice to cancer patients. I agree that a great place to start would be with your hospital social woker. Also, here's a link to the American Cancer Society page that discussions work issues during treatment:

    https://www.cancer.org/treatment/survivorship-during-and-after-treatment/staying-active/working-during-and-after-treatment/working-during-cancer-treatment.html

    You are not going through this alone. Slow down, do some breathing exercises, and take one thing at a time.

     

     

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