2 months into new job cancer diagnosis

[Anybiggerproblem]

I got my dream job, a job I've relocated to the other side of the country for 2 months ago. I'm a single parent to 2 primary aged children. And now I have cancer. Hopefully a treatable kind but we won't know for sure until it's removed. What do I do? I know not really an AIBU but I'm kicking myself for leaving my dull but secure job I had been in for 10 plus years.

Positive thoughts for you beating cancer as quickly as possible. Really bad timing re.job but hopefully they'll be supportive as best they can. What will be will be, you can't turn back time. Hopefully even with this massive bump in the road you have made the right move.

Sorry to hear this OP.

Assuming you work for decent people they will support you. No one thinks badly of someone with a cancer diagnosis - they are not going to question you or what you need. And frankly even if they are not decent you have rights. It'll be fine. You concentrate on you.

There's no way you could have foreseen this and you're having a hard enough time without beating yourself up about that.
When will you know your treatment steps?
Schedule a meeting with your manager and just be honest that you don't know the extent of it.
Will you have anyone able to come and help support you and the children?
💐

I will need surgery first and then that will determine next steps. I have everything crossed that my employer will be decent. They seem lovely. But I know if you haven't worked for someone for 2 years they can just get rid of you. It's the thought of having no income that's keeping me up at night at the moment

I’m so sorry but hopefully new employer will support you and you should have benefits and financial support to claim if work cannot pay you. I’m off for the second time with a different cancer and depending what the surgery and any further treatment is-it doesn’t always mean you have to be away from work for too long or that some adjustments can be made until you’re fighting fit -good luck and there should be a cancer nurse specialist who can signpost you to help xx

I’m sorry to hear your diagnosis, and I hope al, goes well, but on a positive note a cancer diagnosis is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act so your employer has to protect your job

www.macmillan.org.uk/documents/getinvolved/campaigns/workingthroughcancer/equalityact2010workhomepage.pdf

Have you actually asked your employer?
I would do that first and foremost.

Do you know your sick pay entitlement?

@Anybiggerproblem there is no two year qualifying period for making a discrimination claim. A cancer diagnosis is automatically classified as a disability under the Equality Act. I hope your employer is good to you. Are you in a union?

Taking my union hat off, for you and best wishes for your treatment.

Sorry wrong link, this one is better
www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/practically/the-disability-discrimination-act-equality-act-and-cancer

www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/work-and-cancer

As soon as you were diagnosed, you automatically acquired disabled status under the Equality Act.

This means that, if they dismiss you when you tell them, you would simply file a disability discrimination case. They would need to be able to prove to a ridiculous level that it wasn't related, or you'd win, and the settlement for a disability claim can be unlimited.

Put it in writing to them. Most people are decent and will support you, but you are protected if they don't.

It's not limitless - eventually, if you were off a very long time with no end date in sight, or were left unable to do large and critical parts of the role, they could dismiss for capability - but its a very complex, slow process to do so, and nothing that they could safely implement any time soon.

I'm so sorry to read this and have also had a (treatable) cancer diagnosis recently. Do you have any critical illness insurance. I hope your work are supportive. Mine have been better than I expected and fully paid me so far (two lots of a few weeks off and will need one more month off) despite only getting a few days paid each year and then SSP. So sorry you're going through this - the cancer and the stress.

@Anybiggerproblem I’m so sorry to hear of your cancer diagnosis, I’ve no advice but send you positive wishes, I think that other posters have provided helpful advice, take care xx

I am 30 next year. Last night I had a really strong feeling that I won't be here for it. I can't shake the idea it was some kind of premonition. I know that's daft and I'm not so normally so woo. But everything is scaring me. I just want to go home.

@Anybiggerproblem

I am 30 next year. Last night I had a really strong feeling that I won't be here for it. I can't shake the idea it was some kind of premonition. I know that's daft and I'm not so normally so woo. But everything is scaring me. I just want to go home.

I was convinced I wouldn't be taking a live baby home during my first pregnancy. I didn't feel sad about it, it just felt it wouldn't happen. But I did. Your brain can do funny things, you're young.