Returning to work

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pbgirl
pbgirl Member Posts: 18
edited June 2014 in Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer

Hi all.  I'm posting here because I think as Canadians, for the most part, we are lucky to enjoy better paid sick time.  I was wondering when you returned to work.  I am waiting to start radiation, no date yet (and will not need chemo) and my sick time will run out before I start rads.  The problem is I am a critical care nurse (12 hour shifts, very heavy and busy place)  and I still feel emotionally fragile at times (not always) and I'm not sure how I will feeling pouring myself into caring for others.  I can stay off but that would involve EI  and a huge cut in wages (because I would still have to pay for benefits).  Has anyone else had a similar situation?  This entire process has happened so quickly up until now, and sometimes it feels surreal.

I appreciate any thoughts

Lisa 

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  • pbgirl
    pbgirl Member Posts: 18
    edited April 2011

    Sorry, had some trouble with that.  I am posting this here because as Canadians I think we, for the most part have better paid sick leave.  I was wondering when you returned to work.  I am waiting to hear from oncology with regards to rads (I will not need chemo ) and my sick time will run out before I start.  The problem is I am a critical care nurse (busy heavy unit, 12 hours shifts) and I still feel fragile at times (although not always)  and I'm not sure how I will cope with caring for really sick people.  I can do the EI thing, but I still need to pay into benefits, so the pay cut will be significant.  This entire process has happened so quickly, sometimes it seems surreal.  I would appreciate any advise from someone who has "been there" and how did it work out for you?

    Many thanks, ladies,

    Blessings and good health. 

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  • Slainte
    Slainte Member Posts: 152
    edited April 2011

    Deciding how much to do is a dilemma for me right now. I had mastectomy in sept followed by chemo. Started chemo Oct 12 and finished Jan 24 . I am not having radiation but will have herceptin forna year. I started back to work the first week in March. The first two weeks I did one day a week and now I am putting in two days a week. I am a veterinarian so my days are pretty busy and fairly physical. I don't have any sick leave or benefits as I am a locum and am considered as a small business. I have found the two days a struggle. In a perfect world I would have waited a bit longer , but it was time for me to started earnining some money again. Lol

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  • kim40
    kim40 Member Posts: 904
    edited April 2011

    I was off work for a total of 15 months.  I have been with my place of employment for over 20 years, so I had really good benefits.  Once my short term was over (26 weeks), I then went on long term.  By the time my short term ran out, I was just starting rads and I knew that I needed more time.  I finsihed rads in August 2009 and I started back to work in April 2010.  I needed that time to rest, to recover, and to process what I have just been through.  When I was diagnosed, I had mastectomy 1 week later and to tell you the truth, I didn't have time for me.   I was thrown into the world of cancer and I didn't have time to think of what I was going through, I just knew that I had to do it. 

    If you can, take your time returning to work.  You need sometime to get your thoughts together and you will probably feel better for it in the long run.

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  • mks16
    mks16 Member Posts: 415
    edited April 2011

    I am still working full time while going through chemo. I took a week off for each one of my surgeries and take two days of for chemo and day after. I make up for lost time on weekends.

    I am self-employed so I don't qualify for EI and don't have any other benefits either. However, my hours are flexible, I can work from home up to 100% of the time, and my co-workers and clients are very understanding andaccomodating.

    I wouldn't have done it otherwise. Today I am so exhausted mentally, I was doing a load of laundry and put in Tide instead of  fabric softener. Then I did another load of whites and threw in a bright red towel in there for good measure. Obviously I am in no condition to work today and nobody in their right mind would want me anywhere near work stuff Smile. 

    Like kim said, I think we all need to take time to wrap our heads around our situation, feel whatever we feel like and just shut off the world on days we need to. You need to consider your financial situation, but a month or two might make a big difference for your well being and your healing process down the road. I guess the question is what you can recover from quicker, the pay cut or the consequences of throwing yourself headfirst into such a busy work schedule.

    I hope that whatever decision you make will be the best possible one for you. All the best!

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  • pbgirl
    pbgirl Member Posts: 18
    edited April 2011

    Thank-you so much for your insightful words.  They really are helping.  I have a bit of time to decide and hopefully will come to a decision which feels right.  I seem to always be second guessing anything I decide (including really stupid stuff like what I should have for lunch).  I was never like this before (sigh)  

    mks16...you are my hero!! 

    Blessings to all

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