I think a lot of the initial shock and digestion of medical information has worn off…for now. However, there is a whole other side of cancer that comes along with the physical and mental aspects of this. As a Program Manager, I always have a plan, so this shouldn’t be any different right? There are a lot of questions that swarm around work, finances and family care that can add stress, so I highly advise compartmentalizing that and tackling it early on. Make yourself a binder that keeps all of your important data handy.
Let’s start with insurance. Most companies offer a nice brochure of your coverage, but when you move rapidly through diagnostics and treatment, keeping tabs on the order of claims processing and when things may hit your deductibles and what percentage of payment you must cover will be daunting. You will most likely have to wait out the bills to see what you owe. I am fortunate that my policy has a catastrophic out of pocket amount that ensures I pay nothing after that amount has hit. Given that I had minor surgery in January, at least I can take some comfort that deductibles will soon be met, and I will be tracking towards that larger number. My hope is to have all major treatments wrapped up in 2025. Another question to ask your insurance provider is if they require preauthorizations. Don’t hesitate to call your insurance provider and ask they all of these key questions and keep every conversation documented in your binder or get the information in writing. Also understand that bills are likely going to be overwhelming, so set yourself a budget that allows you to whittle away at them, but do not allow them to cause stress during treatment. Your focus is on getting well, and they will get paid when they get paid.
I am a federal civilian employee. Unless you are living under a rock, you likely know that the administration has requested all civilians return to office full time. This impacts the flexibility I once had as a remote worker. I plan to continue working as normal as much as I can, but the reality is, there may be days where I may not feel well either physically or emotionally and being in a crowded office may not be ideal. Additionally, if you are undergoing chemotherapy, being around a crowd when you are immunocompromised is also a risk. There are a number of protections under federal and state levels that cover cancer patients. For me, the path may be to seeking a Reasonable Accommodation for ad-hoc telework to account for those days where I am heavy in treatment. ChatGPT is a good resource for asking these sorts of questions but also engage your Human Resources team and see what options you have available. When I told my boss about my diagnosis, his empathy level registered at around 0.2, so know that you may have to advocate for yourself in this process. Know your rights and take advantage of options that will allow you to continue working as long as you feel able.
As a single mother, I am fortunate that my children are bordering on adulthood and can fend for themselves for the most part. As much as they like to think they are adults, they still need me. Take advantage of your circle when people offer to help with your children. I plan to meal prep and freeze a lot of food ahead of surgery so that IF my energy is low, I have a way to make sure everyone eats. Do your best to plan surgeries and events around their milestones, but do not sacrifice speed of care to do that. Your care and getting ahead of this tumor are critical so that you can be there for the longer run. It pains me to imagine missing a track meet, or a senior night event since I am typically on the sidelines for everything, but I know lots of good friends with good videography skills to help make me feel like I am there. Lean on people if you don’t have family close by. I am fortunate to have my parents two blocks up the street, but I also know I can call anyone on my friends list, and they will come through!
Today is meal prep day for the week to make sure eating healthy is a priority. If you are looking for a low carb, high protein meal with some healthy bone broth to boot, try this Tuscan White Bean Soup, minus the white wine. The recipe is here if you are interested! Surgical consult is this Tuesday, so my treatment plan should be clearer by then. I am so thankful for all the friends who have reached out with their personal story to give me some peace of mind.
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