Chrissy,
first of all Congrats on your job! In my opinion you did the best thing. It is not dishonest to not tell somebody about CML. There are other problems in life - some people go through divorce, loss of their family member, depressions, other diseases - maybe worse then CML and if you think about it all what I mentioned can really affect their performance at work. Do they say that they are divorcing, do they say that they suffer from depressions??? I think you did the best thing. You told them after the first week, I would probably do the same thing, I would inform my supervisor after getting to know him, and then maybe to other people I think I can (want) to tell.
I am sure you will do a great job and many people will admire your encouragement, strong attitude and everything you are able to do.
Good luck,
Livia
Chrissy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Chrissy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hello, I am a CMLer in Canada. I just started a new job, and after my
first week, decided to tell my bosses about my leukemia (I have a
specialist appt at the end of the month and I wanted to tell them about
it). Needless to say, they were surprised!
As many of you on Gleevec know, because we don't always show evidence
of our cancer treatment (ie. no hair loss), people assume we are
healthy, 'normal' (whatever normal is!) people. Thus, there is usually
a little shock and confusion when I tell people. What I find I have a
hard time explaining is that I am doing okay, and that taking Gleevec
is kind of like a diabetic taking his insulin.
Anyway, I feel that I am doing well enough that it shouldn't interfere
with my work (it's admin/reception work--no heavy lifting or
anything!), but for some WEIRD reason, I have a major guilty complex
right now. I feel like I should have told them during my initial
interview. It just didn't come up. I am thankful that I am feeling
well enough to go to work, and at first I didn't feel like I would
necessarily have to tell anyone about my medical history. Now I am
afraid they are going to think I was hiding this from them. I wasn't
intentionally hiding anything, I just don't want to be treated
differently from anyone else, so I didn't say anything, thinking I
didn't have to. However, CML is a part of my life I can't ignore, and
I realized today that it's easier for me if I need to go do bloodwork
or go to my doctors to just be able to say WHY then to skirt it...does
that make sense? I think the worst part is not knowing if they are
being honest or not...maybe they were just pretending to be supportive
when really they are thinking, 'we should never have hired this girl!'
I'm feeling bad wondering about that. This has something to do with my
'heart-on-my-sleeve' personality, I'm afraid, I feel that I was
dishonest by not telling them sooner. CAN ANYONE OUT THERE RELATE TO
THIS EXPERIENCE? If not, I apologize. I'm just feeling a little out
of sorts at the moment.
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