HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Cancer causes job loss

Val Pfeiffer · 02-18-2007, 09:59 AM

hi Merridith--
It is a tragedy that employers act this way. I had quite the opposite experience, and I want to tell you about it so that you and others know there are good people out there too :-)

When I was diagnosed, my current employer bent over backwards to help me. They got me a laptop and worked around my schedule. The CEO ordered pink BC bracelets from Target for every employee to have if they wanted one.

Then, because of my BC experience, I decided I wanted to get back into the health care field. Previously, I worked for the organization that included the health plan that had covered me through my cancer treatments (and had approved my request to step out of plan to get the radiation I wanted), and I wanted to go back and work there. Despite the fact that I knew the CEO very well, and that she and the medical director knew of my health problems, they hired me anyway...for a position that wasn't really in my range of experience, at least directly. (I think the work I did on my 80-page radiation request document helped.) But I thought wow...how cool it is that a company would hire me knowing that I have some serious health issues!

Best of luck with your efforts--this is an important issue!
Val

02-18-2007, 09:59 AM	#15
Val Pfeiffer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 159	hi Merridith-- It is a tragedy that employers act this way. I had quite the opposite experience, and I want to tell you about it so that you and others know there are good people out there too :-) When I was diagnosed, my current employer bent over backwards to help me. They got me a laptop and worked around my schedule. The CEO ordered pink BC bracelets from Target for every employee to have if they wanted one. Then, because of my BC experience, I decided I wanted to get back into the health care field. Previously, I worked for the organization that included the health plan that had covered me through my cancer treatments (and had approved my request to step out of plan to get the radiation I wanted), and I wanted to go back and work there. Despite the fact that I knew the CEO very well, and that she and the medical director knew of my health problems, they hired me anyway...for a position that wasn't really in my range of experience, at least directly. (I think the work I did on my 80-page radiation request document helped.) But I thought wow...how cool it is that a company would hire me knowing that I have some serious health issues! Best of luck with your efforts--this is an important issue! Val __________________ BLOG: http://valleygirlvnp.blogspot.com/ Dx 11/04, Age 42, ER-/PR-, HER2+++ 3 months weekly Herceptin, Taxol. Carboplatin Significant tumor shrinkage Mastectomy 3/05; Stage 3b, 9 cm tumor, 5/8+ nodes 3 more months weekly Herceptin, Taxol. Carboplatin 7/05 30 radiation treatments, IMRT planning approach Started 1 year of Herceptin 9/05 9/06 Began quarterly triple doses Herceptin. Brain & breast MRIs semi annually. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 6/08 Right breast, intraductal carcinoma, high nuclear grade associated with comedo necrosis; extensive diffusely involved the entire biopy specimen. ER+, PR-, Her2 unknown at this point, 07/08 mastectomy.