Introduction

Hi Ange, thank you for sharing your story. I have reached out to my family and friends back home in NZ and that has really helped. Taking each day at a time x

Hi Rachel, I'm 54 and new to breast cancer too. Triple negative, inflammatory and in the lymph nodes, waiting to be staged. I have two adult children now, but when I had ovarian cancer, I was a single mum of 38 and my boys were 7 and 17. I did it by myself and didn't reach out. It's scary, I know, but take each day at a time. Don't worry too much about the future. Look after you at the moment. Reach out to everyone around you, I am this time around and it feels soooooo much better, having support. 
Ange xx

@RachelG  and @Jen79x sorry to hear of your Breast Cancer diagnosis, its incredibly overwhelming. I've had it twice in 2011 and 2015, with my last diagnosis being ER+ Stage 2 Grade 3 which required chemo, no rads as I had it in 2011. 

I tried to have a plan of working through chemo but unfortunately and everyone is different I was extremely ill on FEC 3 weekly and had to be hospitalized for a few days after each of the 4 infusions. I then went onto 8 TAXOL weekly but by then it was cumulative and I had no relief with pain management. So I had to stop working which was so difficult with zero financial support. Unable to get help from Centrelink as I had some funds and Super was a no go. A few months after I finished treatment I found I had an inbuilt component of income protection. To qualify you have to wait 90 days, which didnt bother me as I had to be back paid. The other thing is also they take it from your last pay, so you have to have zero income. Mines for 2yrs and finishes this January. I get 75% of my predisability wage, I did return 3 days a week beginning of last year so they only pay the % on 2 days a week. Its better than nothing but as I got caught out they didnt take any tax out initially, so I have a $1,200 tax bill to pay uuugh. Now they take out double tax and apportion some of the premium to your super. Bit furious over the whole thing. I have no choice now but to go back full time to support myself as Im a single parent. Financially its been horrendous.

In terms of are you sick enough?? you have to supply all documentation reports etc. from Surgeon/Oncologist of your Breast Cancer Diagnosis, generally you wouldnt need to go on it until you are well into treatment and find you cannot work. So no problem with getting it at all. 

Cheers
Melinda xo

Thank you :) I will discuss with her next time I see her :) I'm going to try and work at least part time through this but it would be nice to know I can take a break and have done income coming in if I need it.
i guess that's why we pay for it isn't it

xx

Sorry my post isn't working... @Jen79x there are forms for you and your treating doctor to complete. Probably your oncologist atm. They are familiar with the process. They do them all the time. And YES you ARE sick enough. You're having CHEMO and I imagine trying to raise a child, run a household and manage your mental health too. It will get harder and you're not superwoman! Part of your super paid for the insurance. It wasn't free, so take advantage. You're entitled.

@Jen79x

Hi Rachel 
I'm new too and also tnbc - I haven't got official staging yet I think I get that tomorow, but I started ac chemo just last Thursday :( its rough isn't it- you barely have time emotionally realise what has happened and then they through you in for all these tests to see if it's spread and then you have to wait for results - that was almost as bad as the initial diagnosis ! What are you having ? I had bone, ct Abdomen to shoulders , MRI boob, called back for ct on liver which showed lesion "probably begnign" then MRI liver due to the probably. Waiting and not knowing if had spread was terrifying :( - hope you get all clears straight away so you don't need to wait longer ! 

Molly 001 - what do you need to qualify for income protection - i have it on my super policy but I don't understand if I'm sick enough to get it !!

Thanks everyone for your advice so far :)
xx thanks Jen 

Thanks so much ladies for all your helpful advice and tips on getting through this. It really helps to hear other people's stories and know that I am not alone xx

You done, @onemargie? Bloody hell, I thought I was the only one with that problem :)

Sorry I kept stuffing this up!!! Here's the rest of my post!!! Or you might be able to work it depends like I said o how you feel with the treatment.  All of us on here would love you to simply carry on life as normal and not have any side effects. That would be awesome. But you need to be kind to yourself and listen to your body if you need too though ok. Feel free to PM me any time with any TNBC questions you might have. Happy to chat anytime. Margie.