Dealing w/ High Paced Job w/lots of Travel/Tx in other Country?

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BRog
BRog Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in Young With Breast Cancer

Hi there,

I was diagnosed last week with Grade 1 ICS, 2.5 cm, ER+/PR+, HER still outstanding (2+ in IHC).  I'm scheduled to have a lumpectomy, likely followed by chemotherapy and radiation.

I am a single woman, 38, currently living and working in Europe.  My job requires me to travel 75% of the time and I don't speak the language where I'm living.  I already had a business trip planned to Chicago (my hometown) next week and have managed to work out with a surgeon there to do my work-up and lumpectomy after my meeting. (I plan to extend my trip by and extra 2-4 weeks to do the surgery and get a treatment plan (and possible harvest some eggs).

I'm not sure how to address this with my boss and if it is realistic for me to keep working while in treatment.  I am on the fast track and due for a promotion that could take me to another country soon, but I'm leaning toward asking for a placement back in Chicago instead.  I don't really want to tell my boss (who would be very supportive) because I don't want to share this at work and be forever "labeled" and potentially passed over for top level jobs.  (I know there are laws against this, but there is no way to prevent it, even subconsciously some people may take it into consideration).

I'm also considering where I should do my treatment - in Chicago (on medical leave or working part time remotely?) or in Europe.  I'm assuming the doctors could collaborate between hospitals, but I don't want to sacrifice my quality of care.

Any thoughts or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.

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  • jessica13
    jessica13 Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2014

    BRog, I know this is so long after your post that you would have made your decisions but I thought I'd share anyway. 

    35 years old and super single, diagnosed in September while living / working abroad in the UK, traveling for work 50% of the time. I had been offered a job at a new company which I desperately wanted but turned it down to keep my accrued disability and not have to worry about proving myself while undergoing treatment. 

    I did tell my boss because I asked for a transfer back to the US to be closer to a better support system. I asked him not to tell other coworkers and I think only those who need to know (HR, the VP etc) do. While I only took 1 week off to recover from surgery and worked through chemo, he and the VP have babied me a bit. And I know they are frustrated that I can't travel while I have rads. That said, my outputs still exceed that of some colleagues' so I think if you have a solid reputation, this bump in the road wouldn't make you get passed over. 

    Due to timing of the transfer, I had surgery and started chemo in the UK, finished chemo and will have rads in the US. The UK was much, much better, (cold caps as standard and insurance approved, subcutaneous Herceptin injections offered, meals served during chemo). This is also true of many European countries from what I gather. I wish I didn't know that, because I am happy to have a better support system here but it is frustrating!

    Would love to hear what you decided and how things went!

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