How has breast cancer affected your income? - Page 2

Believe51 · 03-10-2008, 12:43 PM

Ed was the insurance provider here and was forced to leave his job due to illness. Thus leaving us both without insurance at first. Now it is I who is out on a limb w/o medical coverage.

I had to cutback part of my self-employment hours also. Just pondering about this very interesting topic.>>Believe51

Merridith · 03-11-2008, 12:16 AM

Not really, Alaska Angel. This isn't a scientific poll. It won't be used for anything. I just was curious. Wanted to scope out the general employment situation with others.

I think people always want to find other people who experienced the same things as them.

For myself, I was one of the people who were "encouraged" to leave work from a job that I had had 10 years and I still haven't recovered my lost income. So I guess I wanted to find out how many others were in the same boat.

Merridith

AlaskaAngel · 03-11-2008, 09:37 AM

Thanks for explaining that, Merridith. I'm sorry you were affected like that, and hope the poll helped answer those questions you have.

AlaskaAngel

fauxgypsy · 03-20-2008, 09:09 PM

I am self employed and my work is very physical. I had to slow down and have more help during treatment. When I was first diagnosed I was told I was stage 4 and should file for disability. Then they decided (long story) that I may not have been stage 4. So I worked as much as I could through treatment. After several months of treatment I had a mastectomy. I kept asking the doctors when I would be able to get back to work after my mastectomy and the surgeon kept telling me that I would be back to it in a few weeks. That was August. Now I am developing lymphedema in my hand and it is very obvious that they don't have a clue. If I am not supposed to lift more than 5 lbs with my right arm, how exactly am I going to climb scaffolds and carry ladders and materials. I even showed him pictures of what I do. I am very frustrated and my income has really dropped. There is no way that I will ever be able to do what I could before the surgery. My last oncologist did not even want to sign a paper to get my student loan deferred until my treatments are over ( he only signed it long enough for me to have a month or so recovery from surgery), I haven't even asked this one. I feel that my doctor is being ( have been) obtuse.
I am also having trouble wearing a prosthesis. It hurts. So I really don't want to go out in public any more than I have to. I have Medicaid through the Breast and Cervical cancer screening program and that will end next spring. I live about an hour away from where I receive my treatment. I am trying to learn to live with uncertainty. But is sucks. I am only having herceptin every three weeks but I have had one problem after the other. Two weeks ago I had an infection in my throat, thrush, and phlebitis in my arm, apparently from the tamoxifen. And I am rarely without pain from the surgery. I have cramps in my feet and legs often even when my potassium and magnesium levels are normal.
A friend told me recently that I should feel lucky. And I know that I am but I just wanted to slap her. Y'all know that I am usually very positive but occassionally that wears very thin. No work, no sleep, and no understanding from health professional who should know better wear me down sometimes. I told my daughter the other day that I feel like I am no longer self employed but that I am unemployed. I know that it could be so, so much worse and that I will get through this. Sometimes I feel like the only one who is angry, totally ticked off. I read recently that you should "repot" yourself every so often. Well, I feel like someone has come along and kicked my pot over and stomped it.

Leslie

juanita · 04-07-2008, 09:16 PM

Leslie, I am so sorry things have not gone very well for you. I agree some docs just don't get it. I think they should have refresher courses in what it's like to be human as there are more and more survivors out there every year.

fauxgypsy · 04-08-2008, 06:29 PM

I just wanted to address my earlier complaints. I was one of the people who was both self employed and with no insurance when this happened. I was lucky in a way because of those two things. I was able to structure my time so that I could work around treatment and I stumbled upon the Medicaid program for uninsured patients through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program. Sometimes it is hard to feel lucky but then I think of how bad it could have been. I have a very generous family member who has stepped up to help us more than once.
I have realized that I am not going to be able to resume my fauxfinish business at the level I was doing it. I have a M.S. degree in biology (genetics) and have decided that I am going to try to get back into science. I have been out of it for many years but I still have wonderful references and a good background so when a research position in of all things, cancer research, came open at the University, I decided to apply for it. It will be a while before I know anything. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I have been frustrated because I can't make the doctors understand how physical my work (the faux finish business) is. I have felt pressured on one side to feel disabled and on the other to do more than I can safely do. I like working and I am hoping this will work out. I am meeting with a someone at rehab tomorrow as well. I don't know how that is going to go, she heard the word "cancer" and started crawfishing (for those of you not southern, a crawfish goes backwards when it is troubled). It is not the cancer diagnosis that is the problem, it is this #$%% mastectomy that I possibly didn't have to have ( another long story) that is the problem.
Whatever happens, I have decided that I am NOT going to give up and roll over. I am not through yet! Just call me the come back kid.

harrie · 07-05-2008, 04:24 PM

Our income was not significantly impacted, but we had to pay a substantial amount towards the surgery that the insurance did not cover. (including the Oncotype which the ins paid -0-)

ElaineM · 07-05-2008, 09:16 PM

I had to go on social security disability, because my employer was not understanding and would have expected me to carry on the same as before I was diagnosed. That would have been very tiring and stressful. One doc thought that would compromise my survival and told me to apply for social security and he would do anything to help me get it. Thank goodness 4 docs voluntered to sign the social security disability application and I didn't have any problems with approval. I had to live on savings for the 5-6 months while I waited for social security to start. Medicare kicked in after 2 years. That helps alot, but I still have uncovered medical expenses and have to be careful with my monthly budget, but I am very thankful I am alive and kicking.