Employment through cancer treatment

terrinagel61

I am a single mother of three school aged children. I was diagnosed with two different types of breast cancer (one in each breast). The diagnosis came in March 2013, a year and a half after I had been laid off from my job and was still full throttle in looking for a job to support my children.

Now, I find myself, still recovering from my recent double mastectomy and about to launch into my chemotherapy. Can't see myself interviewing for a job and saying, "Oh, by the way, I am likely going to have to take considerable time off to deal with my cancer treatment."

With the medical bills, I am watching all of my savings (on which I had been living) dwindling down to nothing and I am so afraid. Does anyone have any inside leads into employment? Companies that are friendly to these issues, work from home companies. Anything? I have one special needs child and had been earning my living primarily doing research, editing and administrative work.

I would be grateful for any leads that someone might offer.

~~Very frightened

Pessa

I worked full time throughout my chemo (AC x4).  Just had to leave work early on infusion days and for any app'ts.  I am also a siingle mother and my boys were 13 and 15 at the time.

DeliriumPie

You should apply with several temp agencies. Do not tell them about your treatment though. With any luck, they can keep you busy with different assignments until your treatment is finished. This also will look better on your résumé in the future instead if just a big gap of unemployment. When you know your appointments in advance just let them know that you are unavailable on those dates. Also, if you are offered short term assignments that pay less than what you are expecting, take them anyway. Even $9 or $10 an hour is more than the zero that you are earning now and it will gain the favor of your recruiter who will then look to give you the good jobs when they come in.

mary625

I work in HR. I think the temp agency is a good idea, but I would definitely plan for several days to recuperate after chemo jjust in case. I think when companies call in temps, they expect a lot of them, there is always training specific to the office itself, etc., and I don't think I could have handled that in the 4-5 days post chemo. A lot will depend on how much if any antinausea meds you have to take in that period.



I know there are websites where people can bid on editing work or post editing services, but I just can't recall where I saw that info. Maybe someone else will recall. There is also a website for hiring virtual administrative assistants. I wish I could remember these sites, but perhaps Dr. Google will help.



This is not the time of year, of course, for substitute teaching.