Being open and honest with myself and my colleagues helped me balance work and bladder cancer
About three years ago, I started a new job as vice president of recruiting for a legal services firm. I was thrilled to be doing something I love at a new company. I was less thrilled, however, that I was also dealing with symptoms of a urinary tract infection .
On the third trip to the doctor, I was desperate for relief. The urgency had ramped up. I couldn’t get through an hour-long meeting without excusing myself. And the pain was getting worse too. I was embarrassed by all the bathroom breaks — what 35-year-old woman can’t make it through a meeting — but what else could I do?
I was hunched over on the examining table when he said my symptoms were not normal. I was so relieved when he said this was no way to live and he was committed to finding out what was causing all the pain., which is a procedure that allows your healthcare provider to see your bladder. To avoid time away from work, I scheduled the first or the last appointment of the day. If I couldn’t make that work, I told my boss right away so she knew I’d be out of pocket.
I went into our meeting with a plan to continue working through treatment, and I shared my schedule, including days I wouldn’t be able to work. I also let them know that I wasn’t sure how I was going to respond to surgery or treatment but the job was important to me and working was the best thing for me.
I continue to be an open book about bladder cancer and how it may affect work. Sometimes I tolerate the treatment really well and I’m up the next day and ready to go. Other times, I have a lot of pain and I’m so tired I can’t get out of bed. Either way, my colleagues know the day after treatment is flexible for me. This allows me the time to listen to my body and do what’s right for my health without the pressure of calling in sick at the last minute or overpromising for that day.
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