🤔❓"Can I/should I work during breast cancer treatment?"
This is a question that comes up often. Some people may find that continuing to work during your treatment helps to bring a sense of "normality" to your life. It can also help to keep you occupied during your treatment. However, you may not feel able to work everyday, especially if you are experiencing side effects such as fatigue or nausea. Here are some tips for managing work while through your experience with breast cancer: ✨ Talk to your employer as soon as possible about your diagnosis. They may be able to work out a job share or reduced hours arrangement for you. ✨ Find out your entitlements regarding paid and unpaid leave from your manager or human resources manager. ✨If you are self-employed you may be able to find someone to step into your role for a while. ✨ If your work includes manual tasks, talk to your doctor about whether these aspects of your job need to be modified. ✨ If you have income protection or trauma insurance you may be eligible to make a claim while going through your treatment. Some superannuation funds include insurance – you can call your company to ask about this. ✨ Early access to superannuation may be another option for you. Generally, you cannot access your superannuation until you have reached the minimum retirement age. However, in some circumstances you can apply to access your superannuation early. These include severe financial hardship or compassionate grounds. Before you apply for early access to your superannuation, it is important to understand the short and long-term financial impacts of taking money out of your superannuation early. Contact a financial adviser who will be able to offer assistance and advice that is most appropriate for you. "I returned to work one day after finishing radiotherapy. Now, looking back, I wish I had taken some time off to rest and relax." - Melissa, BCNA Member 👉 Click here for more information on finances and practical support during breast cancer
Radiation cost
Hi everyone, I'm trying to get an idea of the cost of radiation therapy in Australia for those who do not have access to Medicare. I was diagnosed last Feb 2026, ER/PR+, Her2-, BRCA2+, 2 positive LN, and am currently undergoing chemotherapy. I'll be having a bilateral mastectomy in July, followed by radiation therapy. I'm on a temporary work visa in Australia, so I don't have access to Medicare. Unfortunately, my OVHC insurance won't cover radiation treatment because it is considered outpatient care. I’m really feeling really anxious about the potential costs, and to be honest, the financial burden has made me wonder whether I can even afford to go ahead with radiation. I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through radiation without Medicare coverage. How much did it cost, and were there any financial assistance programs, charities, or other support options available to help? Thank you so much for any advice or experiences you're willing to share.
Financial difficulties
Hi everyone I was diagnosed in August with ILC and have only been able to work a handful of days since my diagnosis. Since I started chemo I've been hospitalised with a blood clot (DVT) in my leg, pneumocystis (PJP) and most recently Clostridium Difficle (C. Diff). I'v had severe fatigue from the chemo and have been an emotional wreck from this entire experience. I've been extremely lucky though that my employer has been so supportive and has placed no pressure on me returning to work and is open to me coming in on any day for however long I can just to keep in touch. They have also generously offered me one months pay ex gratia. My issue is that I have now exhausted all of my sick leave and have only a couple of weeks left of my annual leave but am not in a position mentally or health wise to return to work yet. Foolishly, when I was younger I never opted for income protection on my superannuation so I don't have this to fall back on either. I contacted my Super fund to ask how I could access some funds from my super to allow me a couple of more months before I had to return to work. They advised me that this was dealt with by the ATO with a request for compassionate release of super funds. I went through this process on line and even called the ATO but unfortunately I don't fit into any of their categories to be able to claim compassionate funds. You have to be unable to pay your medical bills (mine are all up to date), have a terminal illness (Stage 3 BC isn't classed as terminal) or be in mortgage foreclosure (which I'm not, but may end up there soon if I don't return to work). The ATO directed me back to my Super fund to ask for financial hardship payment. My Super fund advised that to claim financial hardship, I had to be receiving Centrelink payments for a minimum of 26 weeks. This whole process is so frustrating but is also adding to my stress levels and anxiety. I've worked hard for so many years to make sure I was in a good place with my financial situation but this has just been eroded over the last few months due to BC. I feel like the ATO and Super fund want me to be in complete financial distress before they'll assist but I'm trying to be proactive and avoid getting into that situation. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions? Does anyone know of any other avenues that can be taken to access superannuation?
Managing the cost of breast cancer webcast: tips and resources
Hi everyone, BCNA are holding a webcast on Thursday 16 September, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm AEST on managing the cost of breast cancer: tips and resources. For many people with breast cancer, the financial costs associated with treatment and care can be substantial. General day-to-day expenses continue, while you may also have to pay for specialist appointments, tests and scans, medicines and other treatments, counselling, travel and so on. If you're unable to continue in paid work, the loss of income can also contribute to financial pressure on you and your family. Even when treatment is finished, you may still struggle financially, or you may face the longer-term impacts of ongoing care. For some people, getting by financially is no easy task, even at the best of times. Money worries can have a big impact on how you and your family cope. Informed financial consent requires people to have information about costs and support to make informed decisions about their care. We will hear from Financial Counsellor at Cancer Council Victoria, Antony Mitchell who has a community focus and experience with working with a number of not for profits, and BCNA Consumer Representative Jodie Lydeker who was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer 3 years ago, and detected again in 2021. Jodie will share insight into her lived experience of the financial stress associated with the disease. In this webcast we will explore managing the costs of breast cancer including informed financial consent, public vs private healthcare, hidden and common out-of-pocket costs, questions to ask your healthcare provider, financial wellbeing, career impacts, issues for those who live in rural and remote areas and the resources and support available to you. To register, please follow this link, https://www.bcna.org.au/webcasts-new/managing-the-cost-of-breast-cancer-webcast-tips-and-resources/ Event Details When: Thursday, 16 September 2021 What Time: 07:00 PM AEST - 08:00 PM AEST Local Times: - WA: 5:00 PM - NT, SA: 6:30 PM - QLD, ACT, NSW, TAS, VIC: 7:00 PM
Financial Mess
If there wasn’t enough stress while waiting for final decision on whether its mets or arthritis. It seems that I'm always chasing my tail or robbing Peter to pay Paul which sucks I knew the financial burden of having cancer sucked big time from experience when hubby was diagnosed but it was never this hard i thought I’d be clever and do a fortnightly budget after all the necessary expenses eg house payment, rates, insurances, phone, motor vehicle that not including maintenance (have to go to work), I'm left with a whole $150-00 a fortnight for my medication thank goodness for health care card and groceries. how do people do it. Does this ever end
Superannuation
Hi All, Just venting my frustrations, for two days I have emailed the super I have like many of others have about trying to access some of my super to help out with the incoming house hold bills mortgage ect. We all know firstly being diagnosed one tends to go into shock, then the realisation of appts, surgery , all else that comes our way. Then all of a sudden the reality of when one has ceased work for now one wage carrying the burden of which I am lucky as there are others on there own of which I feel for. Anyway I have to be dying or dead of which what good is the mulla then, of which I am alive today and the bills don't go away, I have asked for all superannutions have a policy for people who for unforeseen illness comes out the blue, to have access to there super . I was suggested Centrelink well nothing against Centrelink when you need it and are genuine , I replyed would you stand in line for hours, talk to ten different people of whom know nothing about what you need , then fog you off to the next person so on and on. Telling complete strangers your private business then comes all the forms to go over the same thing all the stupid questions ect. No one should be put through all this no need rigromole of the humiliation , shame, of the red tape. Why can't there be a policy put in place to access ones super , a doctors letter for evidence of the illness. We would like to keep our dignity and be treated with the up most respect , I was told try for Compassionate Leave ect why when the government say we all pay into super then when it's needed why can't we access it atleast that the bills ect are getting paid and we can contstrate on getting through this rocky journey without added stress. Any other suggestions let's try and fight for proper policies put in place for people and families to aleast lessen the burden of some sort. Shazx
Out of pocket expenses - share our stories
Greetings to all network members. I guess we have all received an email from BCNA encouraging us to take part in a survey conducted by the Consumers Health Forum - to find out more about 'out of pocket expenses'. I have already submitted my response. My main points were that lucky ducks like me have struck a good combination of private surgery but with surgeon and anaesthetist charging no gap fee, followed by free public chemotherapy and radiotherapy and backed up by wonderful information and support from my Breast Care Nurse. In my response I said that it is very unfair and inconsistent that all breast cancer patients don't have access to the same low cost, high quality treatment options. Location or income or insurance should not make a difference. 41 deg here in Dubbo at the moment; so whole afternoon spent inside in front of the air conditioner! Best wishes from jennyss
