SHARE Cancer Support is pleased to partner with Cancer and Careers on the 12th annual National Conference on Work & Cancer, being held virtually on Friday, June 24, 2022!
This FREE virtual event will explore the complexities working people face as they balance their cancer treatment and recovery with employment. Topics will include working through treatment, job search, self-care, disclosure, and more. CEUs/PDCs available.
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7 Replies
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Just me being snarky, but I have some sort of reflex rejection of content promoting work, or work opportunities, for people who've been diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Yes, I get it, people are living longer and quality of life has theoretically improved.
So our capitalistic system still sees some value to be reaped (almost misspelled that! ) from us.
But in a fair, equitable, compassionate system, which should be what we -- in the "greatest", I mean "wealthiest" -- country on earth, we really ought to be able to just focus on our health, well-being, etc. Almost like a retirement, which many of us won't ever see, in spite of contributing to the system for decades.
I was dx'd Stage IV at about the time that life-expectancies took a leap forward (i.e. adding a year or two) and there were claims that "MBC would be a chronic disease", meaning not near-term fatal. I had a niggly concern about the "system" deciding that I wasn't entitled to disability...still more to give! Until we literally cannot?
I know that in the US, many people with stage IV dxs "have to" keep working. To keep corporate health insurance and/or because they can't financially survive the waiting period between leaving an employer and qualifying for medicare (which is ridiculously expensive, with the meds!!!). It's certainly admirable, re: those who can do it, but does it have to be required?
My two-cents. Guys, let's vote wisely, This is nuts!
As one of the “have tos” working until I can go on Medicare, I think the conference is a good thing as it may offer some suggestions, but as far as “job search” and “disclosure” I am pretty sure some suggestions will be unrealistic. I have worked for the hospital where I am a nurse for 15 years; when I had surgery for MBC any chance of moving to a lesser, more labor intensive position dried up (and I have tried). People are nice but when it comes down to the bottom line , ie whether are not they feel you will be taking more time off or not being able to do the job in the future, I feel most people think you should not be working even though this would be a huge financial hit. We spend so much money on all kinds of ridiculous things in this country when people who are sick cannot get any help. Maybe time to get loud about it.
Bullseye Lynn! Boy did you hit the nail on the head. I like & agree with your 2 cents. Maybe we should get in their chat & bring it up? Maybe not. I posted earlier, but maybe not a good idea to cause that much chaos, but being forced by medical finances to go back to Wally World wasn't fun. And neither is waiting to be pointed out or not & I just wonder if these people have thought about all this & do they want to hear it. There's my 2 cents as well.
Oh, man, OneLump22, count me in!! We have *so little* control...or power/sway. This hits a deep well within me! I *intend* to reconnect to this and do as you suggest...Feel free to ping/nudge me if I lost track! Lynn
Just registered too Lynn. Did you have to do a survey when you registered? I thought that was wierd. Not to mention invasive. Oh well, as long as I get a "seat".
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