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Steelkiwi686
Steelkiwi686 Member Posts: 73 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Happy thanksgiving everyone!

I am thankful to be here and I am thankful for this group!
My question is about work. I have been out of work throughout my entire cancer experience and treatment. There was no way I would have been able to do my job and manage the treatments. I am currently on long term disability which also includes SSDI. 

Anyway, now that I am NED and don't have another visit till January I'm starting to realize or hope that I can possibly go back to work under my new normal condition , Perhaps even after my Jan appointment if things continue to improve. Unfortunately my regular doctor was at a conference during my last visit so I saw a different dr who gave me the great news and sent me on my way. We didnt discuss anything else I just danced out of there. 

The question is...does anyone know how this works? Has anyone returned to original job after having been out for a year and a half plus??

Im not exactly sure if I still have a job although I have not been terminated, I am still an inactive employee on the books. 
I guess I wonder If my doctor releases me and provides return to work letter, can it actually be that I could be back in my job as if this never happened?

I'd love to hear if anyone has experience with this. 
Thank you 

 

Comments

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #2
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    Human Resource Department

    I'm not sure if your company has a HR department but it would be beneficial for you to contact them and ask them directly if you are able to return to work (pending doctor approval).  If you have your previous job open would they give you the same position back?  I'm sure only they could answer that.  Some jobs are wonderful about holding a position open for someone with a long term disability as my daughter had one with her foot and was off quite a long time.  Just ask and I'm sure they will be helpful in your answer your are seeking.  Hope the doctor releases you to go back to work and you get the job you are looking for.

    Kim

     

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,280 Member
    edited November 2019 #3
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    As Kim says, you'd need to

    As Kim says, you'd need to communicate to your HR or whoever you worked under to get those answers. I was lucky to do the emergency contracting work I did, so I could also work around my and Cindy's appointments and treatments, and had just enough help and time to get through things. Had I lost the contracts and contacts I had, I'd likely be on SSDI as well. If you can't go back to what you did you might consider starting a small business from home as they will allow you to get back to some work and keep the disability. Check with Soc. Sec. if you try that route, and best of luck.............................................................Dave

  • Real Tar Heel
    Real Tar Heel Member Posts: 307 Member
    #4
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    I used to do employment law

    I used to do employment law (please don't take the following as legal advice)

    Returning to work from being on long-term disability can be a complicated byzantine path where you combat with HR and competing insurance companies, with your physician out there trying to help you respond to the paperwork and inquiries. How you return to work depends on what kind of work you were doing and how your illness affected your ability to to perform that work. You may be allowed to return to your old job with full responsibilities if the job was not really taxing physically. But as we know, the treatment for our illness can really affect our mental capabilities as well.

    This also depends on the state you live in and the state laws regarding compensation/disability.

    You may be first able to return with limited responsibilities, maybe they limit the hours you can work or restrict the tasks that you can perform. It will depend on what the doctor tells the insurance company and the people from your workplace.

  • yetti
    yetti Member Posts: 82 Member
    edited December 2019 #5
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    hello I had Endometrial

    hello I had Endometrial cancer stage 4  had chemo hysterectomy and 3 more chemos.  I was out of work. For an entire schoor year. I work at an elm. School as a paraprofessional  I was out out on FMLA the entire  school year  2018 /2019   I finally got to NED April of 2019  by a 2nd  opinion at CTCA  GA    i was in NED  April,, May June july  Aug  and returned to work  same position same achool  fortunately thr position was still available, beacuse a sub did my job  for the  year   But didn’t want position bc she prefers a sub shedule I was so desperate to get back to Normal  that I went back to work Aug 2 2019   It has been the hardest adjustment of my life  the  early am hrs  the kids with the runny noses sneezing all over ,  worryimg about getting sick  my mind is just not there  !  I have to go to CTCa  in Ga I fly   There every 3 mths for checkups  and labs  and CT scans taking personal/sick  days   It was so much easier and less stress not working  I’m now stressed  anxious tired always ,  and I’m beginning to hate the life I fought so hard to live!   Think about it give your self more time ideally  Jan 2020  would have been more ideal  but where would I be working new co workers  new situations  no sure I could have handled that either  cancer has made me a less confident, nervous anxious person   Overly sensitive  I get upset easily  returning to work is double edged sword 

     

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #6
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    yetti said:

    hello I had Endometrial

    hello I had Endometrial cancer stage 4  had chemo hysterectomy and 3 more chemos.  I was out of work. For an entire schoor year. I work at an elm. School as a paraprofessional  I was out out on FMLA the entire  school year  2018 /2019   I finally got to NED April of 2019  by a 2nd  opinion at CTCA  GA    i was in NED  April,, May June july  Aug  and returned to work  same position same achool  fortunately thr position was still available, beacuse a sub did my job  for the  year   But didn’t want position bc she prefers a sub shedule I was so desperate to get back to Normal  that I went back to work Aug 2 2019   It has been the hardest adjustment of my life  the  early am hrs  the kids with the runny noses sneezing all over ,  worryimg about getting sick  my mind is just not there  !  I have to go to CTCa  in Ga I fly   There every 3 mths for checkups  and labs  and CT scans taking personal/sick  days   It was so much easier and less stress not working  I’m now stressed  anxious tired always ,  and I’m beginning to hate the life I fought so hard to live!   Think about it give your self more time ideally  Jan 2020  would have been more ideal  but where would I be working new co workers  new situations  no sure I could have handled that either  cancer has made me a less confident, nervous anxious person   Overly sensitive  I get upset easily  returning to work is double edged sword 

     

    Welcome Yetti

    Thank you for your insight. 

    It is awful that Cancer keeps taking from us, even when we hear those wonderful words, NED.  I just recently gave up my part time job, as I couldn't even handle that.  too many bathroom issues to make life in the work force, comfortable. 

    I am happy that you are NED, and I hope that you can get to a place where you are happy and living life to its fullest, and not worrying about having to work.  It is so hard. 

    Tru

  • SoCal42
    SoCal42 Member Posts: 78
    #7
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    yetti said:

    hello I had Endometrial

    hello I had Endometrial cancer stage 4  had chemo hysterectomy and 3 more chemos.  I was out of work. For an entire schoor year. I work at an elm. School as a paraprofessional  I was out out on FMLA the entire  school year  2018 /2019   I finally got to NED April of 2019  by a 2nd  opinion at CTCA  GA    i was in NED  April,, May June july  Aug  and returned to work  same position same achool  fortunately thr position was still available, beacuse a sub did my job  for the  year   But didn’t want position bc she prefers a sub shedule I was so desperate to get back to Normal  that I went back to work Aug 2 2019   It has been the hardest adjustment of my life  the  early am hrs  the kids with the runny noses sneezing all over ,  worryimg about getting sick  my mind is just not there  !  I have to go to CTCa  in Ga I fly   There every 3 mths for checkups  and labs  and CT scans taking personal/sick  days   It was so much easier and less stress not working  I’m now stressed  anxious tired always ,  and I’m beginning to hate the life I fought so hard to live!   Think about it give your self more time ideally  Jan 2020  would have been more ideal  but where would I be working new co workers  new situations  no sure I could have handled that either  cancer has made me a less confident, nervous anxious person   Overly sensitive  I get upset easily  returning to work is double edged sword 

     

    I was off work completely for

    I was off work completely for a year during my initial round of treatment, and then returned to work full-time for about 15 months before I was diagnosed with metastatic disease. That was a really tough year - tired all the time from trying to do a demanding job all day with a bunch of new physical disabilities to work around. Now back on medical leave full time and really thankful for disability insurance.

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