| | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) |  Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 | My Dr put the date I began treatment as the day I was totally disabled from work.
Angelia
31 at Dx.
DX: 4/30/09, 10/21/09 SCC on floor of mouth,
T1NOMO, T2N1M0
TX: 39 IMRT, 8 cisplatin 11/30/09
PET/CT: 11/03/09: Lymph node involvement
PEG/PORT: 11/09
TX end: 02/01/10
PET Scan: 04/05/10 clear
PEG Out: 06/21/10
Biopsy: 12/23/10: fibrosis
HBO: 01/04/11 - ORN
Baby girl born 11-30-12
| | | | | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Joel,
I'm a programmer also and don't see why you wouldn't be able to concentrate. Working allowed me to block out the fact I had cancer by keeping my mind occupied. However, you will probably be too sick to work at least after the first couple of weeks. I didn't have have chemo but did work the first two weeks. Day 9 the radiation knocked me off my feet and I was down for the count and on disability until I returned to work 3 weeks after radiation.
I can't imagine my your doctor would have filled the form that way. Maybe he is waiting for the treatment to make you ill before he will put you on disability? Let us know what happpens.
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Joel and Eileen,
I know with my chemo I was unable to concentrate very long. Heck I couldn't keep with with a half an hour TV show towards the end. As soon as the chemo wore off I was physically weak but mentally better.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 126 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 126 | Have you looked into Family Medical Leave? My understanding is that they have to hold your job for 16 weeks. Again you would have to have a Dr. sign the form stating you have a medical reason to be off. This is a law used to protect your job while having to be off for medical reasons. The short term disability is something that pays you why you are off. Sounds like you need to discuss with yur Dr. why he would not agree that you are not able to work while in treatment.
Sharon, 57; Hard Palate; T1, High Grade, DX 6-12-09, Surgery, maxillectomy 7-14-09, 33 RT (9-2-09 to 10-19-09); Prothesis (obturator). None smoker, non drinker.
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