Time off work!
Charles
Comments
-
time off...
I am just getting started. been basically off for the past month.I asked my ENT doc just yesterday the same question. He expects me to be off for @ least the next 6 months.
Sounds like financial devastation to me. now what? Hmm... good luck to you. by the way, I get to have the neck your sporting here very soon. Does it hurt like it looks?0 -
Working...
Hi Charles,
I was an acception I guess.... I have worked for the same place for 21 years, and had 1200 hours of sick time available. I also (and suggest you do as well) went on FMLA just for added protection.
But anyways being that 90% on what I do is computer based (DB modeling and planning), and that I'm the only one that does what I do helped a lot also.
Anyways, I used two weeks sicktime up front when the tonsils came out. Then I had a nine weeks of chemo and seven more of concurrent chemo/rads. It all started on January 5th, 2009 and finished my last rads on June 19th.
During that time I was allowed to work form home, connecting to my work computers and working at my liesure tracking and documenting my time.
I used somewhere around 300 hours all in all of sicktime. I returned to the office part-time after early August and Full-Time after Labor Day.
Allowing me to work form home and not on a set schedule was huge. Days that I had chemo and pumped full of steroids. I'd rest when I got home, but then be up until 4 in the morning working because I couldn't sleep.
Anyways, hope you find a solution or comprimise with your employer as well.
Best,
John0 -
Charles,
When I first went to my Surgeon, he told me that I would be out of work for the next 6 months. I was self employed and had a business partner. My Business partner told me he couldn't handle the business by himself, we did have helpers, but it ended up folding.
I then looked at Social Security disability, but at that time, we needed to be declared sick for one year or longer. Things changed in 2008 and the Compassionate Allowance was installed in Social Security and Head and Neck cancer is on the list. Another poster here listed this information in a thread the other day, so I bookmarked the site for future use for others. Here is the link to the Social Security part of Compassionate Allowance.
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances/
Hopefully, where you work, you have short term disability which should be for 6 months. I had my surgery early Oct of 04 and completed my radiation in early Jan of 05. Cooked from the radiation for an additional 4-5 weeks into mid Feb of 05. Had the Peg removed in mid March 05. I was feeling a bit better by mid April and then my wife fell ill for a period of time. I stayed home with her until she was back on her feet. I found a new job in June of 05.
My Best to You and Everyone Here0 -
Short TermSkiffin16 said:Working...
Hi Charles,
I was an acception I guess.... I have worked for the same place for 21 years, and had 1200 hours of sick time available. I also (and suggest you do as well) went on FMLA just for added protection.
But anyways being that 90% on what I do is computer based (DB modeling and planning), and that I'm the only one that does what I do helped a lot also.
Anyways, I used two weeks sicktime up front when the tonsils came out. Then I had a nine weeks of chemo and seven more of concurrent chemo/rads. It all started on January 5th, 2009 and finished my last rads on June 19th.
During that time I was allowed to work form home, connecting to my work computers and working at my liesure tracking and documenting my time.
I used somewhere around 300 hours all in all of sicktime. I returned to the office part-time after early August and Full-Time after Labor Day.
Allowing me to work form home and not on a set schedule was huge. Days that I had chemo and pumped full of steroids. I'd rest when I got home, but then be up until 4 in the morning working because I couldn't sleep.
Anyways, hope you find a solution or comprimise with your employer as well.
Best,
John
Charles
I was luckier than most. My supervisor let me take paid sick time during all of my consults. My treatment started Aug 4th and ended Nov 30th. I had 6 months short term disability that gave me 6 months at 100% pay. I then went on long term disability that went to 60% pay. I was only on long term for about a month before returning full time on Mar 22nd.
I did not have surgery like most on this site though. Bset Wishes & Prayers
Dave0 -
WorkFire34 said:Short Term
Charles
I was luckier than most. My supervisor let me take paid sick time during all of my consults. My treatment started Aug 4th and ended Nov 30th. I had 6 months short term disability that gave me 6 months at 100% pay. I then went on long term disability that went to 60% pay. I was only on long term for about a month before returning full time on Mar 22nd.
I did not have surgery like most on this site though. Bset Wishes & Prayers
Dave
Hey Charles,
I stopped working Jan. 17th and will return to work on July 5th. Yes about 6 months.
Best,
Steve0 -
only 30% over 50 returnstevenl said:Work
Hey Charles,
I stopped working Jan. 17th and will return to work on July 5th. Yes about 6 months.
Best,
Steve
This statistic is from a recent book I read about surviving cancer-the aftermath so to speak. I can't seem to locate the damn book right now. Anyway I remember reading that only 30% of people over age 50 ever return to work from any cancer diagnosis. It was written by a doctor who had contracted cancer and is not that most recent book about a doctor that everyone is reading now.
Personally I was diagnosed in July of 2009 and returned to work in March of 2010. I found ten hour days rather difficult, was no longer the least bit interested in the work, and felt totally disengaged. I needed psychological counseling in those early return to work days provided by the employer. I shook things out and arrived at the best possible scenario for my personal circumstances and I took an early retirement in May.
In retrospect it was important to go back for myself as well as my co-workers who were really pushing for me to make it back. After fullfilling that and progressing through some farewells I new it was time to go. In the end with this disease, time, for me, was more important than money. Just a personal observation.0 -
Diagnosed May, 2008. Quit work after surgery in June, 2008 to start chemo and rads. Returned to work June, 2009 part-time, got back to full-time by Nov 2009. 12 of the months were covered by an employer disability policy. My recovery period was extended I think b/c I had a nasty reaction/hospitilization to a clinical trial that set me back. Best to you.
Vince0 -
13 weeksfriend of Bill said:Diagnosed May, 2008. Quit work after surgery in June, 2008 to start chemo and rads. Returned to work June, 2009 part-time, got back to full-time by Nov 2009. 12 of the months were covered by an employer disability policy. My recovery period was extended I think b/c I had a nasty reaction/hospitilization to a clinical trial that set me back. Best to you.
Vince
I used all of my short term disability (12 weeks) and 1 week of long term disability. Was off 13 weeks total from the exploratory surgery of July 2009, around the 21st I think until I returned to work in October 2009 just before Halloween. (Last rad Oct. 13) I'm a CAD designer in a Civil Engineering firm and could have worked from home like John but found my brain fairly befuddled from chemo. No concentration to speak of. I'm sure I would have ended up trying to make water run uphill or some such thing had I tried to work through my treatment. I will say that at the end of my treatment it was only a couple of weeks and I felt like I could go back and did.
Mike0 -
time off....I Missed it ?????Landranger25 said:13 weeks
I used all of my short term disability (12 weeks) and 1 week of long term disability. Was off 13 weeks total from the exploratory surgery of July 2009, around the 21st I think until I returned to work in October 2009 just before Halloween. (Last rad Oct. 13) I'm a CAD designer in a Civil Engineering firm and could have worked from home like John but found my brain fairly befuddled from chemo. No concentration to speak of. I'm sure I would have ended up trying to make water run uphill or some such thing had I tried to work through my treatment. I will say that at the end of my treatment it was only a couple of weeks and I felt like I could go back and did.
Mike
Gee Folks, you mean i was suppose to take time off, sorry to sound so poppie and negative, i went to work right after surgery Monday, and contunued threw chemo and radiation, yes, i went to our work restroom and layed there puking on the bathroom floor with stage 4 throat cancer, because i would lose my job or it could be filled, the doctors couldn't believe it, and even called my boss, was not a cancer friondly person at teh time, God Bless America, and your right, i would have lost everything if i waited for SSI To come threw and help, as i have dished 37 years of money into the system, and the first time i need help couldn't get it, I am going to Tuesday to file for permanet disability, the system wore me down, and the cancer didn't help either..take care Dennis0 -
8 weeks totalLandranger25 said:13 weeks
I used all of my short term disability (12 weeks) and 1 week of long term disability. Was off 13 weeks total from the exploratory surgery of July 2009, around the 21st I think until I returned to work in October 2009 just before Halloween. (Last rad Oct. 13) I'm a CAD designer in a Civil Engineering firm and could have worked from home like John but found my brain fairly befuddled from chemo. No concentration to speak of. I'm sure I would have ended up trying to make water run uphill or some such thing had I tried to work through my treatment. I will say that at the end of my treatment it was only a couple of weeks and I felt like I could go back and did.
Mike
I had surgery on 1/27/10 (neck dissection and tonsillectomy). I took off 2 weeks right after surgery (due to tonsillectomy), then went back to work. Worked the next 5 weeks into the r/c then took off for 6 weeks (took off the last 2 weeks of treatments and the next 4 weeks after). Went back to work after 5th week of treatment. I know I'm a lot luckier than some. Understanding bosses, office job where I could nap if I wanted or for that matter leave whenever I wanted and symptoms not so bad that let me go back to work. Started back at about 4 hours per day and have worked myself back to full-time.
I always loved my job. But I'm feeling like Ratface. I am just not that into it anymore. I will see if anything changes, if not in 18 months I can retire and get some benefits and look for something that peaks my interest more.
Hey Mike (Landranger). We're in da same bidniz'. Civil/structural engineer here.
Good thoughts going to everyone here!
Greg0 -
12 weeksGreg53 said:8 weeks total
I had surgery on 1/27/10 (neck dissection and tonsillectomy). I took off 2 weeks right after surgery (due to tonsillectomy), then went back to work. Worked the next 5 weeks into the r/c then took off for 6 weeks (took off the last 2 weeks of treatments and the next 4 weeks after). Went back to work after 5th week of treatment. I know I'm a lot luckier than some. Understanding bosses, office job where I could nap if I wanted or for that matter leave whenever I wanted and symptoms not so bad that let me go back to work. Started back at about 4 hours per day and have worked myself back to full-time.
I always loved my job. But I'm feeling like Ratface. I am just not that into it anymore. I will see if anything changes, if not in 18 months I can retire and get some benefits and look for something that peaks my interest more.
Hey Mike (Landranger). We're in da same bidniz'. Civil/structural engineer here.
Good thoughts going to everyone here!
Greg
I had no surgery, other than two Outpatient biopsies. Talked it over with both Onco and Rad, and went with their opinion- start my official "time-off," on the Monday my treatment started. Treatment actually lasted 8 weeks, due to my condition in weeks 5&6, then took another month of post-treatment before I finally made it back to work= 12 weeks off. My full temporary medical disability pay lasted 12 weeks, so that worked-out great. Like Greg, I feel I'm luckier than most in my recovery. Would advise not to rush-it getting back to work, as that likely does add one heckuva lotta stress into one's post-treatment life, and that might not be a good thing.
As for work, post-treatment, it is far more difficult, and I agree with Greg and Rick about it not being the same. Some of it may be due to co-workers, and some may be due to potential Chemo-Brain, but I think a lot of it is due to an altered perspective on my priorities- I got me a new view on Time, and how I'd like to spend the time remaining in my life. They got us working 51-hour weeks, but if I had a choice I'd only do 40. Sure, the money is nice, but C does put the importance of money in it's proper place by bringing Time onto the playing field. Does for me, anyway.
kcass0 -
Good enough!Kent Cass said:12 weeks
I had no surgery, other than two Outpatient biopsies. Talked it over with both Onco and Rad, and went with their opinion- start my official "time-off," on the Monday my treatment started. Treatment actually lasted 8 weeks, due to my condition in weeks 5&6, then took another month of post-treatment before I finally made it back to work= 12 weeks off. My full temporary medical disability pay lasted 12 weeks, so that worked-out great. Like Greg, I feel I'm luckier than most in my recovery. Would advise not to rush-it getting back to work, as that likely does add one heckuva lotta stress into one's post-treatment life, and that might not be a good thing.
As for work, post-treatment, it is far more difficult, and I agree with Greg and Rick about it not being the same. Some of it may be due to co-workers, and some may be due to potential Chemo-Brain, but I think a lot of it is due to an altered perspective on my priorities- I got me a new view on Time, and how I'd like to spend the time remaining in my life. They got us working 51-hour weeks, but if I had a choice I'd only do 40. Sure, the money is nice, but C does put the importance of money in it's proper place by bringing Time onto the playing field. Does for me, anyway.
kcass
Well it looks like from the posts I'm lucky to have the time off that I do. I'm cleared until Dec.; but may try to push back and just start after the New Year since i have unlimited sick time! Thanks for the responses!
Charles0 -
6 monthsIrishgypsie said:Good enough!
Well it looks like from the posts I'm lucky to have the time off that I do. I'm cleared until Dec.; but may try to push back and just start after the New Year since i have unlimited sick time! Thanks for the responses!
Charles
From Diagnosis to return to work was 6 months. I definitely could not have worked during that time.
Scam0 -
8 days off but I did notScambuster said:6 months
From Diagnosis to return to work was 6 months. I definitely could not have worked during that time.
Scam
8 days off but I did not have chemo, and my job is physically easy with 7 hour shifts. My company (One of the NICEST hospitals anywhere!!) was SO flexible. I used to come in at 0830 and for all 7 weeks of rads I was able to come in at 1045. For 2 weeks I was able to stay 2 hours later to make up the difference, but then I was too tired and they were SO supportive. It was nice to work in a hospital setting during the treatment, because I felt so many people were there to watch over me and I was told by my doctor that if I ever needed to, have my pic line hooked up for hydration during the day.I changed jobs during week 6 which was very hard (same hospital)learning a new job, but all is well now.
I am worrying about my 3 month pet scan coming up Tuesday...
Good Luck,
Take off all the time that you need..
Stacey0 -
Stacey, you need to knowstaceya said:8 days off but I did not
8 days off but I did not have chemo, and my job is physically easy with 7 hour shifts. My company (One of the NICEST hospitals anywhere!!) was SO flexible. I used to come in at 0830 and for all 7 weeks of rads I was able to come in at 1045. For 2 weeks I was able to stay 2 hours later to make up the difference, but then I was too tired and they were SO supportive. It was nice to work in a hospital setting during the treatment, because I felt so many people were there to watch over me and I was told by my doctor that if I ever needed to, have my pic line hooked up for hydration during the day.I changed jobs during week 6 which was very hard (same hospital)learning a new job, but all is well now.
I am worrying about my 3 month pet scan coming up Tuesday...
Good Luck,
Take off all the time that you need..
Stacey
Stacey, you need to know that a PET at 3 months can show a FALSE POTITIVE. Many people here have gone thru the false positive including me. Just wanted you to know upfront. Please let us know the results.
God bless,
debbie0 -
I know, I have seendebbiejeanne said:Stacey, you need to know
Stacey, you need to know that a PET at 3 months can show a FALSE POTITIVE. Many people here have gone thru the false positive including me. Just wanted you to know upfront. Please let us know the results.
God bless,
debbie
I know, I have seen that..wonder why we should even get the 3 month PET?
Stacey0 -
that's a good question,staceya said:I know, I have seen
I know, I have seen that..wonder why we should even get the 3 month PET?
Stacey
that's a good question, especially when they r so expensive. Maybe it gives the docs a starting point?
deb0 -
Hi Staceyastaceya said:8 days off but I did not
8 days off but I did not have chemo, and my job is physically easy with 7 hour shifts. My company (One of the NICEST hospitals anywhere!!) was SO flexible. I used to come in at 0830 and for all 7 weeks of rads I was able to come in at 1045. For 2 weeks I was able to stay 2 hours later to make up the difference, but then I was too tired and they were SO supportive. It was nice to work in a hospital setting during the treatment, because I felt so many people were there to watch over me and I was told by my doctor that if I ever needed to, have my pic line hooked up for hydration during the day.I changed jobs during week 6 which was very hard (same hospital)learning a new job, but all is well now.
I am worrying about my 3 month pet scan coming up Tuesday...
Good Luck,
Take off all the time that you need..
Stacey
I hope and pray that your PET come out clean0 -
3-monthstaceya said:I know, I have seen
I know, I have seen that..wonder why we should even get the 3 month PET?
Stacey
I started a thread not too long ago on this subject. The only logic I can find is:
1) to establish "a baseline," which may be BS, to compare with later tests
2) to make sure the C has not spread elsewhere- other than the area(s) where the rads were applied. Once we're stage-4, perhaps such as this is possible.
Stacey- no need to worry. Trust me. Too soon for anything to show that's anything more than a false-positive, at least in the area of treatment. My 2 1/2-month PS/CT "may have shown" something, and my ENT was so concerned about it that he scheduled my next PS/CT for 8-months later, which came back CLEAN. You got nothing to worry about, Stacey, other than your Drs. wanting to do a biopsy on something that is NOT C- that is what we, here, are learning. If, going forward, such as this goes down- I urge you to tell your Dr. about us, and the history of 3-months we are living- IT IS TOO DANGED SOON FOR ANYTHING TO SHOW THAT CAN BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AS POTENTIAL C. And, if your Dr. says it is not, then I would urge you to ask him how in the Sam Hill he/she coulda missed what supposedly shows with the tests. No, Stacey, it is too soon, and you got nothing to worry about. The 3-month is a breeze that shouldn't happen. I'm a 1-year PS/CT vet, now, and all is still Clean. So it will be with you.
Believe
kcass0 -
Hi CharlesIrishgypsie said:Good enough!
Well it looks like from the posts I'm lucky to have the time off that I do. I'm cleared until Dec.; but may try to push back and just start after the New Year since i have unlimited sick time! Thanks for the responses!
Charles
We are all so different and the affects from treatment are worse on some of us then others so time in going back to work will not all be the same. I know some people who never went back to work and others took over a year, then there are some like me I never missed a day from work.
Sometimes it is not the body but the Mind, do all you can to keep positive and focused.
Take care and keep posting0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 121.8K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 446 Bladder Cancer
- 309 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.5K Breast Cancer
- 397 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 13K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.4K Kidney Cancer
- 671 Leukemia
- 792 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 237 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.1K Ovarian Cancer
- 61 Pancreatic Cancer
- 487 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.5K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 539 Sarcoma
- 730 Skin Cancer
- 653 Stomach Cancer
- 191 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.8K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards