Occupational Health

Hhi, I was diagnosed with primary bc in March 2014 (a tiny 11mm grade 3 tumour, very oestrogen and progesterone responsive, lumpectomy, no lymph node involvement). I had radiotherapy, together with Tamoxifen and monthly Zoladex injections (as an alternative to chemotherapy which I declined).

 

Fast forward to June 2016 when a CT scan for something completely unrelated to breast cancer revealed that I suspected bone mets to sternum. A PET scan then confirmed this (and found other bone mets in my pelvis, femur, spine, rib). Fortunately, I have no symptoms whatsoever (no pain, no fatigue, nothing) and run a 5K 3 times a week. I’m still on Zoladex but have been switched to Letrozole since the secondary diagnosis (the cancer must have become resistant to the Tamoxifen). I’m also having monthly Denosumab injections to strengthen my bones. The last CT scan in November showed a healing response in my sternum and stable bone mets elsewhere. No cancer in liver, lungs etc, so just in bones at the moment. My CA 15-3 tumour markers are low at about 62 every month.

 

Ive been off sick for 7 months now and my employer has now referred me to Occupational Health (OH). My plan is to utilise all 12 months of my sick pay and then ask to retire on ill health. I have to speak to OH tomorrow afternoon and just wondered how to approach this. OH services are provided by an external company which invoice my employer. Should I: 

 

a. Be honest. Tell them that I have a terminal illness, that I’m not returning to work and want to retire on ill health. I will then almost certainly lose the rest of my sick pay (they will only give me sick pay on the basis that I’m returning to work) or

 

b. Don’t tell OH about my terminal illness until I’ve used up all my sick pay and want to retire on ill health. If I go down this route, how do I discuss what treatment I’m having without revealing that ive got incurable cancer? For example, she will be asking about what surgery I’ve had etc. I can’t exactly tell her that I haven’t had any surgery since 2014 because the cancer is now in my bones not my boobs and now inoperable! 

 

Im not sure what to do. If she asks for permission to obtain a report from my GP, then I will refuse it. Ive been advised to be non-committal and say things like ‘I’m not feeling well at the moment but hope to feel better in the future’. I’m ok with this. It’s the answers to the probing questions about what treatment I’ve had that I’m struggling with.

 

In short, how can I answer her questions without revealing my terminal diagnosis? Or, should I just be honest when I speak to her tomorrow? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Scuba chick x

Hi Scuba Chick, surely your employer already knows you have cancer from your sick notes?
My advice is be honest, you don’t need to tell them you hope to retire but you should tell them you have secondary BC as refusing access to medical notes will raise alarms and surely complicate matters further down the line when you want to retire. Lots of people carry on working with SBC so telling them you have it does not mean they will infer you’re not coming back. BTW it’s really hard to get ill health retirement under the age of 55 so don’t make it any harder by not being open about your condition now. I am 48 and my ONC had to say I had less then 12 months to live before my employer would even contemplate paying out so please don’t bank on it.Your employment contract should stipulate your rights to sick pay, you shouldn’t be treated differently because you have cancer. In fact the equality act should give you more rights not less.

I think you should be honest too… surely your sick notes say you are off, because of Cancer?

My employers have been brilliant, and very understanding. I have not been hassled because they know about my bone mets, and realise I’m not swinging lead!! I have no intention of retiring early and getting a reduced pension… if work decide that they want you to retire, it is normally on your full pension… Plus, if you leave you will lose any other benefits you might have with them…

Terminal doesn’t mean immediate death, Many people have had bones mets for well over 10 years… 

Have you applied for a High Rate PIP Payment from DWP? The hospital allied for mine and I receive a weekly payment… 

 

if if you gave any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me…

take care

Denise xxx

Scuba…

 

welcome to the forum, as you have already seen, there are lots of lovely ladies here with a range of experience and advice to offer.xx

 

Macmillan would likely know your best options. Sorry I cant help. We do have special rights as cancer patients, as you probably know…Macmillan have been pretty helpful, so .i think Iwould ask them

 

 

hope that helps.

 

Good luck with that and let ius know how things go.

 

hugs,

 

Mojanxx

Hi Scuba, sorry for the late reply but wanted to tell you my experience.

My employers were fantastic…my sicknotes said metastatic brfeast cancer and i was paid full amont of sick pay. When i wasnt getting any more sick pay from them i went on to ESA. Obviosly they couldnt keep me employed indefinitely and i was referred to OH. I was completely honest but never said i didnt want to return to work and never offered to resign…in the end my employer had to ‘sack’ me but supported my claim for ill health retirement, which i was granted. I’m only 52 and was very lucky. All i can add os make use of Macmillan, my nurse was brlliant and when she couldnt help she found me someone who could. Good luck. x