Still working FT after taking so many arrows.

[Chugach]

I’m wondering how many of you guys are still working full-time? I am, but all the chemo and other therapies certainly have affected my focus. But at 51 what can I do but keep working? It’s taken me a year and a half to shake off the impacts of the second round of chemo. I’m just not sure I can work at the same level of complexity. I’ve taken too many arrows in this fight- should I take a downgrade to a less complex job or push through the haze and keep working at my current level.

[Max135]

Church let's chat... advance cancer is serious and time spent at work is time not well spent.

[Chugach in reply to Max135]

I get that but I have a young family to support and I’m still 7 years out from the minimum retirement age.

[Max135 in reply to Chugach]

Let's chat one day... send me a direct message

[MarkBC]

You are in a difficult situation. I was diagnosed three years ago at age 55. I was on sick leave for a few months while doing chemo. After some careful thought, I decided to stop working completely even though I loved my job and my income would be reduced. I was fortunate that I had disability insurance so I continue to have some income. Retirement has been great and it allows me to focus on healthy living. I credit the lack of career stress for how well treatment is continuing to keep my cancer suppressed.

Best of luck to you.

[Danish-patient Moderator]

I continued my work as a department manager and video production journalist for many years following my PCA diagnosis at age 51. It helped me stay active, focused my thoughts away from the gloomy sides of the disease, and brought me a lot of joy. Ten years later I sold my expensive house, bought a cheaper house in a smaller city, got rid of all mortgage, and found myself released of financial strains. Then I saw the opportunity to quit the job and start as a self employed journalist in my own one-man company. That has given me a lot of flexibility and freedom to chose my own way of working. It’s going great and I totally enjoy working with the tasks in my own company. I spend more time with my family, children and grandchildren. I spend much more time in nature with my dog. We’ve bought an autocamper and take both short and long trips throughout Europe.I am now 65 and has managed to pull off the golden chains and regain control of my life. Which can be a tremendous help when facing the more troublesome sides of our disease.

[Cooolone]

I was diagnosed, tested, scanned and decided on surgery... Went back to work a week and a half later. I experienced persistent PSA and went into salvage therapy with IMRT (72gy) and ADT soon after surgery, did it all while working. Maybe 6 months to 1 year of nothing... Then some flank pain (while testing for rising PSA once again) brought an Appendicitis diagnosis, which turned out to be stage IV mets to my Peritoneal and Appendix/Colon, 2 surgeries and chemo later, followed with permanent prescription of ADT now... And I finally woke up in regard to work!

It is extremely personal, the decision, the process thoughts and all the feelings that go along with this disease and how it creates a new normal for patients. I too tried to maintain normality and pretend that although there was cancer, it didn't impact me or my life. Well, it does, for everyone! It makes us reevaluate our life, especially in the context of "time" which is the most valuable asset. And everyone is different in regard to what values they place upon these things, like work, money, etc. But you don't own "time"... You cannot but any more of it, you can't delay it, you can't quit it... It's a tough place to be until you find equilibrium and balance that brings you peace. There is no right answer because we all have different needs and find different things which fill out souls.

That all said, I've decided to forget about work, what I've done, I've done. I work(ed) in an industry that allowed me to grow and I was involved in a great deal of meaningful ways. I took and I gave back to the industry and felt that there really wasn't anything left undone. It was ok to pass the torch and move on. I want quality time... Whether it be 1 year or 20... The game now changes and I need to figure out how to stuff 20 years of living into 10, or less, all PCa dependant! I know I couldn't or shouldn't continue to operate at the levels the industry in which I work(ed), that is high profile, big time multi-million (hundreds) contracts, strict schedules demand and with it nothing but daily stress!

But I always reflect back to a nurse interview I remember reading early in in my diagnosis in my search for information... She went on to talk about her many years in oncology and how tough it was to watch patient after patient succumb to their diseases. She talked about how poignant it was to be with patients as they departed... But she emphatically described how people's priorities get all mixed up in life and how she couldn't recall a single patient crying out that they wished they had worked more, or finished that project for their boss, only that they wish they had more time, or done more with their loved ones.

Money is money... But as I watched Denzel Washington's speech recently on YouTube to graduating college students... He noted there are no U-Hauls dragging along behind hearses... Nothing materialistic goes with you. What does, is love and experiences! All measured in time!

I'm 57, been battling 3 years now and I've made my decision to hang up my cleats, let others play the game. Come what will, but my job is to try and pass while smiling! If I am left to a single $1 in my pocket, I hope to believe I would still be happy, having found happiness in all things both big and small, still have the love of my loved ones, and been able to share time with them all, until the end, regardless.

I hope somehow I've provided some views to assist your decision.

Best Regards

[Chugach in reply to Cooolone]

Thanks brother!! I appreciate you taking the time to spell that out. Thanks for your perspective

[Tonwantonga]

I'm still working full time, this week marks a year since my biopsy confirmed that I have cancer. my heart certainly isn't in my work, but someone has to pay the mortgage and the medical bills. I'd much rather be out working on my old cars and jeeps, walking with the dog, fishing, enjoying the pond we dug last year. but, we do what we have to, so the people we leave behind will be better off. I'm 56, my youngest is 9, I hope to see her graduate high school, and hopefully college.

[CSHobie]

I was diagnosed in January 2020, at age 51.

I thank God for the fact that years ago, my employer offered insurance, which I took and paid the premium of.

That enabled me to go on LTD from November 2020.

That first 18 months was tough, and I worked through some of it, but I am very thankful for the fact that I don't have to work anymore.

Best of luck to you all, God bless.

[21Cruiser in reply to CSHobie]

I hope you are doing well! I wanted to ask about your LTD insurance. I also have LTD and was diagnosed January 2022. I am 56, was it difficult getting approved for LTD? I have to be off work for about a year and then I am terminated from my employer before I can get LTD. I'm just not sure about qualifying for LTD. Thanks

[CSHobie in reply to 21Cruiser]

Hi Cruiser, being newly diagnosed it is normal to have a lot of fear and anxiety about the future and things suddenly change all at once, it places one under a lot of stress.

I had the same, and scared of getting rejected by LTD. I spoke to a lawyer and a cancer support group counselor. Essential to getting approved for LTD, is medical evidence. Unlike the thousands of people who try to scam the insurance companies, we are legit patients applying for benefits we paid for.

Be sure to get the medical evidence all documented. Brain fog, Fatigue, pain, bone Mets. Not only the medical condition, but also how it impacts your ability to work. Once you have all the paperwork done, you should have no problem to get approved.

I don't know if it's different where you are, but I collected government EI benefits for about 15 weeks, then the LTD. kicked in.

One more thing, in Canada there's an important issue.if you paid for the LTD insurance premiums, then the benefits are paid out tax free. Keep that in mind.

Good luck with your application and don't stress too much.

[21Cruiser in reply to CSHobie]

Thanks