In 2009, while I was being treated for Hyperthyroidism, my endocrinologist also felt a lump or bump on my neck. I was informed that I needed a biopsy to identify what it was, positively optimistic that it would be benign, which turned out to be full pledge stage one (1) cancer. In this journey, so many things changed in my life, slowly, little by little. 

When a biopsy was confirmed and determined that it was thyroid cancer. It began an entire shift in my way of living and life and started a gradual progression of changes. The most challenging part of this process was expecting the worst and discovering that I had cancer, but also the daunting elephant in the room. How will I manage this with my job?

It called for significant adjustments in my lifestyle, and I had to face the challenge of facing the worst and finding ways to manage cancer and care for my family while staying in the right frame of mind. That was probably the toughest part, and at this point, a job or career became the least my priority, as income, which is essential for dealing with everyday necessities, had now become secondary. My goal is to reduce my financial anxieties and emphasize healing and finding a balance between the important things.

As a working professional, juggling a full-time job, doctor’s appointments, and other life commitments can be difficult. Planning my schedule and making time for personal time were my first steps. It’s crucial to prepare how to help manage these obligations. I started by creating a master calendar to track workdays, holidays, and doctor’s visits, and you can skip asking for vacation days and guarantee no messy management right off or warning and being overwhelmed by scheduling conflicts. Before initiating my treatments, I ensured my management and employer knew about what I needed and the health treatment, and they were supportive of my scheduling needs. In addition, I am organized with my time. Prioritize tasks daily, create a block-out time throughout your week to schedule all medical treatments, and share the calendar with my management, which gives me control and ensures that everything gets done. In my case, while struggling with my health, my direct reporting was very supportive of my flight. I kept reminding myself to be mindful of the amount of time I take off work for health appointments because it’ll consume my bank time. All employers have limited allocation in absences. To combat this and still be employed, I first read the work policy and be aware of the do’s and don’ts. Another thing to remember is that not everyone can understand what you’re going through, and they would not care, which is the reality.

When facing this challenge, I did not give in to the impulse of giving up or the first action was a temper flareup; nothing good will happen based on my own experience. Finally, I make sure to factor in the time needed to recharge, take a break from the hectic pace of life, and return to my hobby to relax and center myself. Otherwise, my thoughts would drift to less desirable places.

What I went through might not be the same for everyone. I am expressing the process I must do to make my day-to-day life and work manageable, so I don’t add bills as another stress factor. The appointments that led to the surgery were stress-free. My recovery was quick. It took only 8 weeks of treatment and recovery and went smoothly. The only downfall was I had to carry a radiation card for 6 months to 1 year.