A new job after my cancer experience

I was very apprehensive when I left the safe environment I had clung to during my Cancer experience.  I had a safety net and a spectacular Cancer Council staffed with wonderful Counselors and free facilities, and trusted team of doctors trailing along behind me.  I felt that being told I had to leave all of the Launceston crew, including the job I had, would be a very daunting experience.  I had many concerns and mostly about employment and what type of position I would find now I had an arm I had to be careful with.  I had lost my confidence, but knew how to sell myself in an interview, and knew it was how we would survive, moving to Sydney.

I did not mention I had a medical past, and even though one position I applied for asked all those questions, I did not tell them any thing.  I had 3 positions to chose from because I was prepared to work every week end to be in line with my husband in his retail job.  I was able to therefore ask for what I wanted and that was to have a role that did not involved manual labor.  I was still in Pharmacy as a Pharmacy Assistant, but no longer wanted to kneel on the floor or lift heavy objects.  Instead I accepted a position in the busiest of the 3 I had to chose from and the one I would be the more challenged in.  I have not gone back to full time work, and work 4 days per week.

I didn't have to mention anything for quite some time, but bit by bit I started to let people know who wondered why I wasn't stepping up to do more shifts.  I also had a major hick-up revolving around staff having to chip in and mop and sweep a very large area, and I developed fluid retention in my breast and had to come clean with my medical past.

 Prior to this, I had asked a GP if she thought it would just be wise for me to be honest and she had advised me not to and said she thought that my honesty would not be rewarded.

I also, in my previous position had been treated as some-one who had been sick and then returned to work, I was the older lady who was being given very menial/non challenging roles.  I was quite bored back then, but just happy to be alive.  I guess it was an important part of my transition away from Breast Cancer.

I also included in my confession the 3 page article that was placed in a Post Script Magazine that is a National Pharmacy magazine published each month, of the story about my return to work.  My employer came out into the busy Pharmacy and hugged me, I had been there for 5 months at that stage, and said I had fitted in from the start and no longer was on probation.  She was extremely supportive.

What I have now is incredible and I almost feel like we were definitely supposed to experience those hardships and losses to realize that living on an island without family or job options,  was going to always be a long hard battle.  For those who don't know me, just after my Cancer, my husband's best friend died and then followed his mother. 

In the role I have now I am in a key position with responsibilities and respect.  I am involved as a customer service person, working in the area of assisting the Pharmacists and primarily sales.   I also work with the Weight Loss area and natural health.   My roles include passing on information to other staff members and educating customers on various subjects.  I am passionate about helping people to stay well and have never looked back.  I am loving my job as never before.  My employer and her husband are wonderful people, and the staff are fun, enjoyable to be around and are just like a family.  

 

 

So here we are, living in Sydney, and both very glad me moved and had a fresh start.  Sure I just can't forget about the Cancer issue, with the ongoing Lymphatic issue, and the check up and looming Mammograms due soon, but at least I am having a chance to live and try to have something of the life I had before!