When am I going to learn to say noI have to try and remember I don’t owe my employers my health/ sanityhad the scans blood test and see oncology tomorrow morning. Get an email and text from the boss can I work Friday. Instead of saying no straight up I left the answer open. After saying since last drs appointment that I was having additional scans etc and wont be working till the Monday after. For some strange reason this has got me down. Got to really retrain my brain. To the word NO Rant Over for now.

Found this on fb Need to get it tattooed onto my brain

100% agree with you @cranky_granny. When I was diagnosed in September last year, I had 7 months of sick leave, 3 months of LSL and 2 months of Annual leave. These are accrued through 18 years of commitment to one organization. Immediately I went on 6 months sick leave and after that requested working from home. I want to save my long service leave and annual leave for uncertainty ahead. I will retire anyway in 2 years as I will be 67. My health has been my priority for the first time in my life. I am comfortable with saying NO to my family and my employer. Their expectations can be unrealistic because I do not show always what I am going through but when needed I will tell them before I say NO. Who on earth prefers going through cancer treatment over work?

Although I work for a 'good' organization, I checked my rights before requesting to work from home after six months on personal/sick leave. I like to do things by the book. All the information I found is on the BCNA website: Employers' Legal Rights and Responsibilities (bcna.org.au). I even sent this link to our HR and my manager. I politely say 'NO' when I need time off for treatments. I also requested a detailed work plan with progress updates. Seriously, how can anyone think that we would rather go for treatment than work as 'normal people'.? @cranky_granny Please say 'NO' without hesitation or feeling down because of it. I have learned this and am still learning. So far, I have great understanding by my employer.

What I told my hubby was that if he dropped dead that day, they would have him replaced within a week or fortnight. That seemed to resonate with him and he ended up taking an early retirement (by two years). They whinged and whined, gnashed their teeth, rended their garments and daubed themselves with ash, but he stood his ground. Within a fortnight, his position had been filled.

Boy do I feel you!!! We HAVE GOT to start using that word ‘no’ a whole lot more!!!

Old habits die hard | BCNA Online Network

28 Replies

Cath62
Member
12 months ago
More waiting for you @cranky_granny. You must have a degree👩‍🎓 in waiting now. Let us know how it goes. Sending best wishes
cranky_granny
Member
12 months ago
PET Scan Wednesday next week and back to the radiologist on the Friday
Hopefully answers then
arpie
Member
12 months ago
grrrr I HATE the waiting too xx Keep yourself busy in your craft room, @cranky_granny xxx

take care, thinking of you xx
Cath62
Member
12 months ago
Thanks for the update. Sounds tricky but hopefully ok. Bloody hell the wait wait wait is torture isn't it. Are you feeling ok with it all?
cranky_granny
Member
12 months ago
Perfect @iserbrown you definitely know i like a good laugh
iserbrown
Member
12 months ago
cranky_granny
Member
12 months ago
Well everyone its a start. PET scan to get a better picture when they ring me. Then back to radiologist asap after. Probably a biopsy then if needed surgery to remove the lump as it looks like its hooked onto the bone and etc. could be a local recurrence of the original tumour. is looking like the other issues on sternum are related to the actual lump pulling on the connective tissue so its waiting waiting waiting
arpie
Member
12 months ago
All the best for today @cranky_granny. xxxx
cranky_granny
Member
12 months ago
Thanks @iserbrown not long now.
I’ll post when I have a plan.
iserbrown
Member
12 months ago
Best wishes for your appointment. The waiting and stress is so damned hard!
Sending a virtual hug
Take care