🤔❓"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 cancer195ViewsSign in to react to this post3Comments
Ideas please
i have a friend who is newly diagnosed. Money is tight for her so a couple of friends are getting together to make up a care basket, with such things as beanies, moisturiser, diary and of course the all important thermometer. Any ideas that we could add would be appreciated.ViewsSign in to react to this postComments
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 PMViewsSign in to react to this postComments
Done with Centerlink
That's it, I am done fighting with Centerlink. They have cut me off even though I am under both income and assets threshold and they must have made some sort of error. I need to think of my own health and the stress and depression is too much for me to bother going back to them again. Hubby is going to sell some shares and give me a fortnightly payment instead. It means we will go further in debt but eventually hubbys superannuation will cancel that out. I will be able to save it and get myself a bedroom air con so my arm doesn't give me so much curry in Summer. :)ViewsSign in to react to this postComments
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 jennyssViewsSign in to react to this postComments
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