Hello All,
I am wondering what to do about working a regular job after a relapse and would appreciate any advice and perspectives forum members might have on the subject.
I had a stem cell transplant 2 years ago and just had a relapse about a month ago. My oncologist has me on a trial consisting of Pomalyst, Empliciti (elotuzumab), Velcade, and dexamethasone with Zometa once a month.The Empliciti and Velcade taper down after 2 and 8 months, but the doctor says I'll be on this regimen indefinitely.
I am too young to retire (I turn 58 next in March) and am currently on short term disability with work (working 2 days and getting 60% disability for the other 3 days). The disability will run out after 12 weeks and I will need to make the decision to go back to work full time and deal with the treatments or consider other options?
I've always received tremendous feedback from this group and look forward to hearing your thoughts about what I might do regarding work after relapsing and dealing with treatments
Thank you in advance.
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3 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Re: Working with multiple myeloma after relapse
Hi Kevinc,
I think that what you will want to do in your current situation will depend a lot on your personal priorities, your personal family situation, and on what your doctors feel your prognosis is given how you've responded to treatment so far (and your overall level of health).
As a starting point, I would recommend asking your doctors to give you an honest sense of what your prognosis is. I know it can be hard to get an answer to such a question from many doctors. You may have a better chance of getting replies if you ask for a prognosis range (best case and worst case scenarios), rather than a single assessment.
Next, I would suggest asking yourself how you want to spend the time that you're likely to have, and what sort of financial needs / commitments you have. Some questions to consider might include:
1. How much time do you want to spend working?
2. How much time do you want to spend focused on being together with family and friends?
3. Do you have other leisure activities you'd like to focus on (e.g., travel, a hobby, etc.)?
4. What are the financial needs of you and your family?
I hope this helps a bit. Good luck!
I think that what you will want to do in your current situation will depend a lot on your personal priorities, your personal family situation, and on what your doctors feel your prognosis is given how you've responded to treatment so far (and your overall level of health).
As a starting point, I would recommend asking your doctors to give you an honest sense of what your prognosis is. I know it can be hard to get an answer to such a question from many doctors. You may have a better chance of getting replies if you ask for a prognosis range (best case and worst case scenarios), rather than a single assessment.
Next, I would suggest asking yourself how you want to spend the time that you're likely to have, and what sort of financial needs / commitments you have. Some questions to consider might include:
1. How much time do you want to spend working?
2. How much time do you want to spend focused on being together with family and friends?
3. Do you have other leisure activities you'd like to focus on (e.g., travel, a hobby, etc.)?
4. What are the financial needs of you and your family?
I hope this helps a bit. Good luck!
Re: Working with multiple myeloma after relapse
Hello,
It all depends on your health and prognosis. Also, it depends on the needs of you and/or family.
You mention
To me, I understand this to be, you work for a corporation, and your benefits are offered as part of your employment package.
First, to fully understand, your short-term disability (STD), you mention the disability will run out after 12 weeks. Do you, actually, mean the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) expires at that point? Corporations offer short-term disability policies for 6 months. What comes into play is the FMLA, which expires after 12 weeks of leave.
Second, may I say, I am surprised, “on partial short term disability,” you only receive 60% disability for the three days. What percentage will you receive if you were to transition to long-term disability (LTD)? All people I know who have been on STD have received 100% (inclusive of women on maternity leave) during a STD leave of absence; the LTD was variable, dependent on company and buy-up provisions.
Take into consideration, should you decide to transition from short term disability to long term disability, you will have an entire new menagerie of items to consider. All the benefits that have been offered by your employer will now become yours to manage as COBRA for health / dental, portability of your life insurance, at monthly premiums, unimaginable. Once on LTD, you are no longer an employee of said company.
For example, go to the official Affordable Care Act website to get an idea of what you would pay for monthly health insurance premiums for yourself and family. The COBRA amount you will pay will not be too far off base. No matter what, being diagnosed multiple myeloma, you will not be able to get life insurance elsewhere. The amount you will pay, for continued coverage, once you are on LTD, will be much, much higher.
You may want to peruse a thread from last year, where I posted in regards to another member’s long-term disability options inquiry:
"Who to consult about disability options?" (started Nov 27, 2016)
Hope this helps?
Best to you,
ZZ
It all depends on your health and prognosis. Also, it depends on the needs of you and/or family.
You mention
am currently on short term disability with work (working 2 days and getting 60% disability for the other 3 days). The disability will run out after 12 weeks and I will need to make the decision to go back to work full time and deal with the treatments or consider other options?
To me, I understand this to be, you work for a corporation, and your benefits are offered as part of your employment package.
First, to fully understand, your short-term disability (STD), you mention the disability will run out after 12 weeks. Do you, actually, mean the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) expires at that point? Corporations offer short-term disability policies for 6 months. What comes into play is the FMLA, which expires after 12 weeks of leave.
Second, may I say, I am surprised, “on partial short term disability,” you only receive 60% disability for the three days. What percentage will you receive if you were to transition to long-term disability (LTD)? All people I know who have been on STD have received 100% (inclusive of women on maternity leave) during a STD leave of absence; the LTD was variable, dependent on company and buy-up provisions.
Take into consideration, should you decide to transition from short term disability to long term disability, you will have an entire new menagerie of items to consider. All the benefits that have been offered by your employer will now become yours to manage as COBRA for health / dental, portability of your life insurance, at monthly premiums, unimaginable. Once on LTD, you are no longer an employee of said company.
For example, go to the official Affordable Care Act website to get an idea of what you would pay for monthly health insurance premiums for yourself and family. The COBRA amount you will pay will not be too far off base. No matter what, being diagnosed multiple myeloma, you will not be able to get life insurance elsewhere. The amount you will pay, for continued coverage, once you are on LTD, will be much, much higher.
You may want to peruse a thread from last year, where I posted in regards to another member’s long-term disability options inquiry:
"Who to consult about disability options?" (started Nov 27, 2016)
Hope this helps?
Best to you,
ZZ
-
ZippyZelda - Name: ZippyZelda
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Spouse
3 posts
• Page 1 of 1