Hi Everyone,
Since I am having some pretty severe financial problems due to having lung cancer and all the appointments, treatments, side effects etc. I haven't been at my job since December 16th.
Just wondering if everyone else is working, and I'm being a wimp here for staying home all this time. Should I just push myself to get back at my desk?
Or does everyone stop working when they are being treated for cancer.
(By the way, I'm stage IV NSCLC with mets to the brain, nodes and possibly liver, for those of you who don't know.)
Sure would like to know how everyone else handles the work issue.
Thanks!
Faith

Hi Faith,

You are not a wimp you are very ill and being very brave going through all the treatments you have been having. I think cancer is individual to the person, some seem to be less affected perhaps it's down to the tumour position, metabolism, age, how long they have been living with the disease, or a thousand other things. Please don't think you are a wimp, your fighting for your life.

There is no way I could work right now, even a trip to the supermarket is out of the question and I am not even having chemo!

Is there anyway your employer would let you work part time from home if you feel up to it. Can you get some sort of sickness benefit or disability benefit where you are?

God bless you :angel:

Cee

Hi Cee
Thanks for the reply. I actually have disability insurance thru work but it pays 60% of my regular pay and I also have to pay my health insurance premiums of $500 a month now. It leaves no money for food, health insurance co-pays, meds, transportation costs etc. My savings is going fast, and I feel like I am being forced to work even with a terminal illness! Unfortunately the brain tumor affected my vision and that will make doing my job (even if I was well enough to) a lot more difficult! I'd like nothing better than to be able to work and be normal again.
The cancer is nothing compared to the financial stress. That'll probably kill me before the cancer has a chance!
Hang in there and Feel better.
Faith

Faith, what a horrible time you are having! Its hard enough having such a terrible illness without having to worry financially aswell.

Do you not have any relatives that could help you out a little?

Could be wrong, but think stage 4 will qualify you for almost immediate SSA Disb. (approx 6 Weeks), But Medicare Ins. two years beyond that effective date. Alreday on SSA Disb and only stage one NSCLC, I could not have worked, check it out, as they may give you a retro active time for the start, or you may qualify for SSI with health benefits. Who knows, employer may agree to pay the 500.00 health ins til Medicare kicks in. Talk to SSA and your HRD. Hope all workd out for you. Bill B.

Thank you for replies. Yes I've checked out SSD and should qualify after 5 months of being out of work according to their website (about Mid May), but will still have to pay the COBRA. My HR dept was the one who told me I had to pay that, which they gave me 3 days notice!
Xant, I don't have any family here and my sister has been helping as much as she can by flying in for my chemo days. That's about as much as she can do financially, and I wouldn't ask for more at this point.
Bill, did you go on SSD immediately when you were diagnosed?
I honestly can't imagine working while going thru this, but the finances are taking over what time I have left! (Although I DO intend to beat this!)
Faith
Expect Miracles! :angel:

I am so sorry for what you are going through. I have stage 4 lung cancer. I called SS and set up a phone interview. They sent me a letter confirming this. After the phone interview I had one more call from SS. I was automatically approved (probably because of the stage 4). Like you, I had no medical coverage and was told Medicare would not start until I received 24 checks (not 24 months). They pay a month behind (you get paid April's payment in May) Cobra is only available for 18 months. I was fortunate that I had taken out some short term policies 3 months before my diagnosis and drew my same pay for 6 months. There was no way I could work. When the chemo didn't get me into remission, they changed my medication to Avastin. Its not a chemo drug with very few side effects. So it worked out well for me. When the short term disability ran out, I was able to to back to work. Once you start your chemo you may be able to earn up to $600 a month working without it affecting your benefit amount. Hope all goes well, as as some one said - your employer may help, especially with the benefits.

Thanks Sandra,
I just really hate to go the SSD route though. I don't think it pays as much as my disability insurance....so how would I pay COBRA payments with that for 2 years? (Isn't 24 checks, 24 months?)
The only choice I see is to force myself to work at this point and I will still miss a LOT of days for chemo, side-effects, tests, and appointments. So I will still loose pay. But would have medical paid for!
It's so confusing. And my employers aren't the generous type.
Don't know how anyone works with this disease though. The fatigue is quite pronounced some days...not to mention the nausea!
Thanks for the reply.
Faith