Is anyone working full time still, after met diagnosis?

Hi talpha- I was dx'd Stage IV a few months ago and continue to work full-time. Like you I have the better insurance and frankly can't afford to stop working. I'm not currently on any treatment but am struggling with a great deal of fatigue lately (not exactly sure why), so some days are pretty tough. I plan to work as long as humanly possible, and we're doing as much financial planning now as we're able. If I had the financial means I might consider quitting, but it helps me feel "normal" to go to work, and I really do enjoy my job. I hope you find a solution that works best for you, and doesn't make your days more difficult and stressful

I also work full time at a demanding job since mets dx 2.5 years ago. I was diagnosed while pregnant and my baby was in the NICU for nearly a month due to having him early. The NICU doctor looked like he saw a ghost when we mentioned I would be going back to work after maternity leave. My job contributes the insurance for our family. Also, I like feeling normal and spending large amounts of time focusing on something besides BC. I worry I would slip into a major depression if I stopped working and feel like the end is near. I may change my mind at some point but feel I am doing what is right for me right now.

It is definitely your decision and not your doctor's decision!!! Do what you want to do and reassess as needed as time passes and circumstances change.

I work full time as a nurse. I was able to take short term disability from my job for 6 months when I was first diagnosed. After that, back to work I went. I make the majority of the money for our household even though my husband also works full time. My health insurance is excellent. I enjoy working and the majority of my friends are at work. So for now I keep going. I do have the option of another period of short term then long term disability when it is needed. Some days it is very hard but I have very supportive coworkers. It is a very individual decision.

Hi, after my cancer migrated to my bone marrow last fall, I went on my company's short term disability plan and after 6 months moved to long term disability. Do you have either of these benefits available through your employer? I did a buy-up for my LTD and will be able to access my employer's group medical, dental and vision plans for 24 months. I applied for Social Security Disability as soon as I transitioned to LTD, and Medicare will be available to me in 24 months so I won't have a break in benefits. Yes, I'll have to find a secondary insurance and make sure I pick the best Rx plan for me.

I agree this is a highly personal decision. It works for me because I wanted to decrease as much stress as possible and feel that taking care of myself is my full time job.

Whoa, awesome llimae! Sound like you are dialed. I too carry great insurance for me and my DH plus the financial hit would hurt a lot. So I continue working full time. Luckily I get 6 weeks off in the summer so I can regroup and take care of little things, indulge my hobbies. Some days I yearn to just tinker around the house and be free to walk in nature or whatever. But I feel I too would get too isolated and depressed, miss the social connection. So I keep on for now. I just hope I have time to finally quit and still have some energy to do some enjoyable things.

talpha1, not sure if you have explored a medical option to treat fatigue but Wellbutrin and Provigil work wonders for this purpose. It helps tremendously with general, day to day, constant fatigue that makes work hard. Wellbutrin is much cheaper and easier to clear through insurance. I have taken both and am currently on Wellbutrin (a high dose version called Forfivo). As an added bonus, it helps with weight loss and increases sex drive depleted by all these cancer treatments.

Save for a 3 1/2 month medical leave, I have worked full time since dx, which was almost 6 years ago. There are many factors to consider, so our decisions are unique to each of us. While I need the income and medical insurance (I am a sole supporter), I love my job and it gives me great purpose and a feeling of connectedness to colleagues and community. I feel as if I am making a positive contribution to society. Yes, I am tired at the end of the day, but it's worth it. I imagine that when the time comes to quit, I will know it, but I'm not at that point...yet

Count me as one of those who works fulltime. I work in health care and my physician colleagues have been great. I take off every three weeks on a friday afternoon so as to receive the Herceptin infusions. I work for myriad reasons. I enjoy my job. I have great health insurance which covers my husband and I as he has his own company. Working distracts me. The money is decent. And I can feel like I have some sense of normalcy. I plan on working until I can't anymore. That being said, I know I am lucky in the sense that I have been responding to the Herceptin and do not feel the intense fatigue. This indeed is a hard decision.

I don't post much, but thought I'd share. I quit working under the advice of a financial planner while going thru chemo. I am able to make as much as I used to on Ssdi and Ltd combined. And just became eligible for Medicare 2 years after leaving my job. With Medicare and my husband's insurance I will now have almost 100% medical coverage. I have also recently started a PT job to supplement the SSDI. I am glad I was able to take 2 years off to give my body a chance to fight. I didn't understand about the 2 year wait for Medicare and I'm glad the advisor opened my eyes to it. The deductibles under my husband's policy were going up every year and not having to worry about that anymore is a huge relief...

Honestly if I could go part time with my job and keep my benefits I probably would. I love being home and working on art. But would definitely miss the social connections. That two year gap waiting for Medicare puts a giant wrench in many women plans.

alpha, I too worry about a long plane trip. I want to take a trip out of the country so bad but worry that I will have a hard time while away. We just spent a weekend in Vegas and had a wonderful time. But I got sick the last day there and had to throw up in the pool side restroom. Not sure what brought it on but made me really think about a long trip. I plan to go for it anyway and you will most likely have no problems and a spectacular time!

tmalpha, I was on the road a lot last year (conservatively I boarded 30 airplanes). This year I've already been to Spain with three more "across the ocean" trips coming in the fall. And I cut down my work travel this year LOL.

Lalady has given excellent advice. Buy WetOnes and wipe down everything on the plane, especially the seatbelt. Drink lots of water and get enough sleep. If you can fly business class on the long flight over, do it. It's worth every penny. If you can't, get a window seat and some sleeping pills.

Ask your onc 'what to do if'. Mine has always told me that if I start feeling bad (or sick) to stop taking the meds and I'll feel better in a couple of days. I travel with antibiotics just in case of fever or diarrhea.

Since your joints hurt, take pain meds before you get on the plane, and keep taking them. The most important thing is to have a fabulous time! You'll be surprised at what you will be able to do. I hear Switzerland is gorgeous!

Talpha, I have traveled a lot since dx, both in the US and internationally to Europe several times and Central America. I just returned from a 3 country Europe trip a few days ago. I have traveled on aromasin/faslodex/ibrance, xeloda and afinitor/aromasin.

I agree with Lalady, if you can find a way to swing business class on a long flight, it is worth it. I am fine on flights under 4 hours but anything over would be too hard on my back to sit in those seats that only recline 3 or so inches.

It is so relaxing to be on a trip and you can take breaks whenever you need to. I think it will be easier than you think. My DH likes to sitesee, then take a break at the hotel in the late afternoon, then go out again at night. It works out well for me now that I have mets. The mid-day break seems to make a huge difference. Also, my shoulders, which are tight and clenched up from sitting at a computer all day at a high-pressure job, totally loosen up on vacation and I feel so much better for that reason alone.

Enjoy your trip!!

You are truly an inspiration Fitz! I take your comments to heart about concentration got your health. After all we took care of everyone else for years.....

Great tips lalady and pajim! I hope to pull a trip together soon. My DH is getting some simple back surgery and my daughter is getting married. But I am feeling a little selfish enough to go for it anyway!

I think that over my upcoming summer break I will come to somewhat of a conclusion about quitting work or not. Depends on a lot of factors. But I have always yearned for some real blocks of time to work on my art.

i had my reoccurance hit me just a couple of months ago. Doing rads now and likely chemo after. I also had surgery last nov for hydrocephelus. My legs were just getting stronger but with mets to my spine.....it is hard to walk very far, using a dang cane again.

I retired a few years ago and heath went down hill. I have pals who have asked me to travel but since i get so tired i have not maybe after this active part of ttreatment, i did a good job saving while i wad working but since it was a very small firm, the benefits were sort of lean,