how to deal with WORK - advice please

[canoe1]

Hi Everyone,

I am having a hemi-colectomy in two weeks and finding it hard to know what to say to work people. I am a freelance photographer so it makes it easier in one way but know that clients will wonder where I am! For some reason i don't want to just tell everyone I have bowel cancer. I'd like to play it low key.

Thinking of what to say in the email - any ideas? "I am on leave"? I am on sabbatical? Or just come clean and say I am having surgery?

Any suggestions gratefully received
Tricia

[raym]

If it were me I would just update that I am away due to some medical procedures. No need to get specific.

[canoe1]

yes good idea.
i don't know why it's been bothering me a lot.....

so thanks!

Also anyone taken aloe vera for inflamed gut before hand?

[PainInTheAss]

If it were me I would just update that I am away due to some medical procedures. No need to get specific.

Yes, and give more details to people you feel comfortable telling and be vague with others who don't need to know. Even saying you are having surgery isn't specific, but might invite questions later when you see people face to face. Dodging those questions with a "I'm just glad it's all over and I'd rather not go into it right now..." is a polite way of telling people to mind their own business.

[justin case]

I'll be unavailable for a while, please leave your message, I'll return your call as soon as possible
Regards,
Michael
You may be on your feet sooner than you think, just don't lift anything heavy!

[kiwiinoz]

I run my own small business with 15 staff.
I told staff, but I asked them to not tell suppliers or customers.
I did not tell, and still have not told customers as I believe a cancer diagnosis will risk the relationships we have.
No matter what people say, it will be a tough thing for them to continue to support you when their future business is on the line.
Look at it from their point of view in that you have cancer. Most people that are not exposed to cancer consider it a death sentence so will avoid dealing with you

[nicola smith]

I run my own small business with 15 staff.
I told staff, but I asked them to not tell suppliers or customers.
I did not tell, and still have not told customers as I believe a cancer diagnosis will risk the relationships we have.
No matter what people say, it will be a tough thing for them to continue to support you when their future business is on the line.
Look at it from their point of view in that you have cancer. Most people that are not exposed to cancer consider it a death sentence so will avoid dealing with you

I agree completely with Kiwiinoz but would go further...don't tell staff as it will invariably get back to customers/clients who might see doing business with you as a risk to their business, thus creating a risk to yours.

All people need to know is that you are going in for major surgery. Any down time you have later (i.e. for chemo), you can explain away as part of regular followup after a tough surgery. (Of course this doesn't work if you are in a small town where everyone knows everybody and everything)

[ASTEPHENS33]

I decided not to tell most people because of my personal choice to want to deal with this with close family and friends. Once I was half way through chemo, I was totally open about it. At work, I found so much extra support. So it worked for me.

[Jachut]

I told the school i was teaching at (just 13 staff) when i was diagnosed. I was so distraught, i couldnt work right away and i had an avalanche of scans and appointments, i honestly don know how you explain six weeks off without warning other than a serious disease.

I didnt work by choice the year after with chemo and all and when i got a new teaching position i didnt mention it - bu then ive needed two surgeries, multiple appointments and scans in the two years ive been there - again i couldnt think of anything more reasonable than the truth to excuse my constant absences.

Truthfully, i suspect its cost me my job. We had excess staff, those of us on contracts had to apply formally and i missed out. I know its because of my illness, but i cant prove that and wouldnt want to anyway. There's discrimination law and there's the real world.

But in m next job i am not fessing up, im remaining positive that after my recent colostomy surgery, im back to normal and wont need to mention the c word.