• At Work
  • Looking for Work
  • Healthcare Professionals

  • Events
  • Newsfeed
  • Take Action
  • About Us
  1. Login
  2. Donate
  3. Ask a career coach
  4. Collective diary
  5. Resources
  6. Free Publications

    Order or Download

  7. Educational Videos

    View All

  • Go Back
  • Introduction

  • Where to Start

  • Legal   Financial

  • Working Remotely

  • Back to Work

  • Coworkers

  • Managers

  • Human Resources

  • Caregivers

  1. Login
  2. Donate
  3. Ask a career coach
  4. Collective diary
  5. Resources
  6. Free Publications

    Order or Download

  7. Educational Videos

    View All

  • Go Back
  • Introduction

  • Job Search & Disclosure
  • Your Online Footprint

  • Networking

  • Resume & Cover Letter

  • Resume Review Service

  • Interviewing

  • Exploring Your Options

  1. Login
  2. Donate
  3. Ask a career coach
  4. Collective diary
  5. Resources
  6. Free Publications

    Order or Download

  7. Educational Videos

    View All

  • Go Back
  • Upcoming Events

  • National Conference

  • Balancing Work & Cancer Webinars

  • Midwest Conference
  • West Coast Conference
  • In-Service Training

  • Balancing Work & Cancer Workshops

  • Job-Search Intensive

  1. Login
  2. Donate
  3. Ask a career coach
  4. Collective diary
  5. Resources
  6. Free Publications

    Order or Download

  7. Educational Videos

    View All

  • Go Back
  • Introduction

  • News

  • Blog

  • Research

  • Newsletter

  1. Login
  2. Donate
  3. Ask a career coach
  4. Collective diary
  5. Resources
  6. Free Publications

    Order or Download

  7. Educational Videos

    View All

  • Go Back
  • Introduction

  • Donate

  • Sponsorship

  • Advocate/Become an Ambassador

  • Shop for a Cause

  • Beauty Editor's Closet Sale

  • Beauty of Giving Luncheon

  • Beauty with Benefits

  • Young Professionals Committee

  • Other Ways to Help

  1. Login
  2. Donate
  3. Ask a career coach
  4. Collective diary
  5. Resources
  6. Free Publications

    Order or Download

  7. Educational Videos

    View All

  • Go Back
  • Introduction

  • The Issue

  • Our Impact

  • Supporters

  • History

  • Transparency

  • Board of Governors

  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

  • Staff

  • Contact Us

  1. Login
  2. Donate
  3. Ask a career coach
  4. Collective diary
  5. Resources
  6. Free Publications

    Order or Download

  7. Educational Videos

    View All

ES
Cancer and Careers Logo
  • SEARCH
    • My Favorites (0)
    • Create an Account
    • Sign In
  • En Español
  • Donate

    Menu

    Close

  • At Work
    • Where to Start
    • Legal & Financial
    • Back to Work
    • Working Remotely
    • Coworkers
    • Managers
    • Human Resources
    • Caregivers

    Ask a career coach

    Collective diary

    Resources

    Free Publications

    Order or Download

    Educational Videos

    View All

  • Looking for Work
    • Job Search & Disclosure
    • Your Online Footprint
    • Networking
    • Resume & Cover Letter
    • Resume Review Service
    • Interviewing
    • Exploring Your Options

    Ask a career coach

    Collective diary

    Resources

    Free Publications

    Order or Download

    Educational Videos

    View All

  • Healthcare Professionals
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • National Conference
    • Balancing Work & Cancer Webinars
    • Midwest Conference
    • West Coast Conference
    • In-Service Training for Healthcare Professionals
    • Balancing Work & Cancer Workshops
    • Job-Search Intensive

    Ask a career coach

    Collective diary

    Resources

    Free Publications

    Order or Download

    Educational Videos

    View All

  • Newsfeed
    • News
    • Blog
    • Research
    • Newsletter

    Ask a career coach

    Collective diary

    Resources

    Free Publications

    Order or Download

    Educational Videos

    View All

  • Take Action
    • Donate
    • Sponsorship
    • Advocate/Become an Ambassador
    • Shop for a Cause
    • Beauty Editor's Closet Sale
    • Beauty of Giving Luncheon
    • Beauty with Benefits
    • Young Professionals Committee
    • Other Ways to Help

    Ask a career coach

    Collective diary

    Resources

    Free Publications

    Order or Download

    Educational Videos

    View All

  • About Us
    • The Issue
    • Our Impact
    • Supporters
    • History
    • Transparency
    • Board of Governors
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
    • Staff
    • Contact Us

    Ask a career coach

    Collective diary

    Resources

    Free Publications

    Order or Download

    Educational Videos

    View All

Home > Collective Diary > Positive, but frustrated to not have my surgery...

Add to the discussion

Please sign in to ask your question or

Create an Account

Length of diagnosis

0-1 Months
1-3 Months
3-6 Months
6-12 Months
1-2 Years
2-5 Years
5+ Years
View All Entries

Recent Authors

Tamron L.
Cristal D.
La Shawn J.
Lowanda Shalik J.
Britta K.
Abby J.
Sara J.
Christina J.
Rob B.
La Shawn J.
View all authors »

Positive, but frustrated to not have my surgery...

0-1Months

Carmen V. on April 23, 2008

I was Diagnosed with:

breast cancer

Employment Status:

full time

Gender/Age:

/55

Type and Description of Treatments:

Not yet begun, having difficulty getting the HMO to approve before the 1st of May because I changed to a new hospital.

How do you feel today?

Positive, but frustrated to not have my surgery date. Worried about my colleague who is going into surgery for cervical cancer today. Thankful for the verbal support I have received so far especially from my sisters and best friends. I hope they will be able to handle it. I worry about that in a selfish but also concerned way.

Since the diagnosis, what has changed in your life?

I am not so carefree. I worry about many more things. I feel sad for the impact this will have on my loved ones.

What is going well for you right now?

I'm alive, I have a caring primary care physician. My sisters have shown such love.

What is not going well for you right now?

Not having my surgery date.

What has been the most challenging thing about having cancer?

Not being able to be carefree, and the frustrations of finding specialists to help me.

When difficulties overwhelm you, where do you go for support?

The loneliness, not having a mate to be there for me now. I have always hated being single, more so now.

How have your long-term goals or life goals changed since diagnosis?

After the treatments, I am going to stop putting off things. Tell people I love them more, enjoy each minute more.

What is your work arrangement right now? What are your hours?

I'm working until I have a definite date for the surgery. I am trying to finish necessary work so that people can handle it in case I can't come back before the end of the school year.

Since the diagnosis, what has changed in your work life?

I take more time to do cancer research, I enjoy the students much much more.

What has helped you continue to work the most?

My principal and the good friends here.

What advice do you have for others trying to work through treatment?

Everyone has their own way of coping. Try to find yours and look forward to the trea

NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

Sign up to receive the most up-to-date information and resources.

FOLLOW US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Videos
eTrust Privacy Certificate logo © 2023 Cosmetic Executive Women Foundation/Cancer and Careers. All Rights Reserved.