my doctor says I can work, but I need leave

Pink91316

I work for a major company, I have 22 weeks of leave I can use and be paid for 100 % for 5 weeks and 70% for the remaining. I want to use this leave but my doctor says I will be able to work. If I end up working it is considered intermittent leave and any days off (treatment days, side effects) would be unpaid. Financially cancer has already been burden, I have a high deductible plan, I can't imagine what not having pay for months will d

Goincrzy8

I think you need to do what is best for you. I dont have the choice, I will have a mastectomy and I will be off for 6 weeks I have one week of vacation, the rest will have to come from state disability. I have a house payment so not up to dr to decide about my bills. I had 2 friends, who had BC one early 30's with 2 kids, she took a whole year off. The other missed no days of work, with chemo and radiation. I think its a personal decision, as you only know what you need in that area

Cowgirl13

Pink, I would find a new doc, seriously. There is no way I could have worked going through all my treatment.

iz1999

hi pink, if you don't mind me asking, what kind of work you do? I worked in childcare and stopped working since my dx, 8 months ago and don't think be ready to go back to work any time soon, physically and mentally am exhausted we need to advocate for ourselves
anyone went through a similar situation?

NineTwelve

I have found that I do not always speak the same language as my medical providers. How did you phrase your question? Did you hand your medical leave form to your doctor and ask him/her to fill it out? Or did you say, "Will I be able to work during treatment?"

Did you try disputing your doctor's claim?: "No, I know my job and my energy levels. I will not be able to work."

Also, there are usually multiple doctors involved our care. So if your oncologist is not signing off on your leave, your surgeon might?

My leave form was filled out by the surgeon's staff, when I was considering an oophorectomy. I never got the surgery, so I didn't use the time off. But I could have.

bevin

HI There, Many people ask their doctor if they will be able to work and the doctor will say "yes".  So instead, I'd advise your doctor you'd like to be off work while going through tx. Your job is stressful and you need to focus on health and tx. Most doctors will sign the paperwork authorizing your medical leave from work.  They do it all the time. Best wishes. I hope it all goes well.

JoniB

When I sent my doctor my leave forms to complete and when I expected I could return to work, his nurse asked why I didn't want a longer leave. They would have signed off on almost anything if I thought I needed it. I returned after three weeks and then went on intermittent leave which is ok for me since I have enough vacation days to always get paid. if you don't, I would definitely discuss all this with your doctor. as someone else on the board said above, one of your doctors should be able to help you.

chelle44

I took time off and had similar coverage as you do. I can't imagine the difference in my life if I had been working. I feel like I handled my treatments with strength and a very positive mindset. I have barely felt tired. I can't imagine working full time and feeling as good as I do. I know people have to work and I admire them for their strength and for them getting through it with grace. I have had the energy to cook very healthy food for my family and I and have the energy to be helpful and active in my children's life as well as exercise daily. If your doctor won't sign the note ask your oncologist. My oncologist was way more supportive than my family doctor but I think that's just because she is moreunderstanding. Good luck. The time off has been very therapeutic

Pink91316

thank you all for the suggestions. I work in a call center dealing with credit card fraud, it's high stress. I saved my salary continuation so I would not have to work during chemo. I only took 2 weeks off for the lumpectomy and have been working while doing Brachytherapy radiation. I am going to use the suggested verbiage or just go back to my surgeon.

juneping

who did you talk to? i talked to my surgeon who supported my leave from work. i think i also talked to my onco but i can't remember now since it's back in 2014.

i also think you should find a new doc. i had the mx and hormonal therapy and i was able to get 3 months off after my mx. i thought i was able to work but the work load was too much for me to handle. so i took sometime off to heal and regain my strength. i was so tired during those pre-surgery appointments, i fell asleep in the MRI session without ear plugs. that's how tired i was.

juneping

how many weeks of radiation do you have to go thru? my bf had about 4 or 6 weeks (not BC) towards the end he took 4 weeks off because it wore him out.

age also play into the factor with insurance company.

Mrsmcg

I had my pre-op today. I am having oncoplastic and will be off work for 2 weeks. They said I can return to work the third week after surgery, but my job requires a lot of upper body movement, so I suggested working 1/2 time, which the next was fine with. The dr and nurses don't know our jobs and work situations. We need to tell them what we want.

My job is forcing me to use my sick leave first. I only have 90 hours, so I will be left with very little sick leave for radiation. I have over 150 of vacation, but I have to deplete all of my other leave before I can dip into my vacation. My boss refuses to let me make up any hours missed due to my appointments. It is allowed in our contract, but it requires supervisor approval, and she isn't willing to approve it.

LisaAlissa

Hi Mrsmcg!

You mention your "contract"...does this mean a union contract? If so, reach out to your shop steward or other union representative for help in managing your contract benefits and coordinating with statutory provisions. Using your scheduled timeoff (aka, vacation) vs. unscheduled timeoff (aka, sick leave or personal leave) is typically addressed by labor contracts. And if there is a supervisor who is not willing to work with you (at all!), you may be able to get help with that from your shop steward.

I'm not sure if you're in the US, but if you are, then the Americans with Disabilities as well as the Family Medical Leave Act both have provisions that may affect what your employer can require you to do. And your shop steward may be able to help you sort those out (and how they interact with your contract)...or perhaps refer you to someone who can.

For example, people who work at a desk and don't move very much may be the ones your docs think can return to work after two weeks. Since your job requires a lot of upper body movement (and maybe lifting heavy things?), your docs/therapists may not deem you "ready to return to that work" after two weeks. Besides the shop steward, there may be a cancer navigator or social worker at your treatment center/hospital that can help you with these issues as well.

I don't think you should just "take it" from your supervisor, without reaching out to all of the resources available to you.

HTH,

LisaAlissa