When do I give up work

I’m very recently considering my work/home life, I m currently working 42.5 hour weekly but feel iim struggling , I’ve got secondary bone cancer in my spine after having a hip replacement because of this wretched disease aswell, my work is very fast paced at most times which before I loved ,and still do but now I’m feeling is it worth it and feeling it, although I don’t want to sit  at home all day I don’t want to spend all my days working myself to the core, my partner over the years has saved for our retirement but not enough to retire early, we both late 50s, would there be any help/advice for me financially to reduce my hours either to do paid work for less hours or for myself for voluntary/charity  work maybe, I have never claimed any benefits before so dont know what would be available 

thanks for any advice 

  • Hello Pigginheck

    I'd suggest getting in touch with the Macmillan benefits and financial support team. They are specialists in this area and will be able to help advise you on what you may be able to claim as well as giving you information about what your rights are as an employee living with cancer. 

    Hopefully any information they are able to give you will help you feel confident to discuss your options with your husband and approach your employer. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator 

  • Hi there,

    I firstly want to send you my best wishes and hope you are staying well. You are probably around the same age as me, 58? I couldn't imagine working 42 hours a week, even without cancer! I had cancer in 2021 and have since reduced my working days down to 3 a week or 24 hours - I have less money but have adjusted. My advice is sit down with your partner and look at your finances, work out your fixed and discretionary spending and see if there's scope to reduce your hours. Then speak to your employer, they have to consider requests to reduce hours/semi retire seriously and accommodate where possible. Don't spend your life in work if you don't have to and yes we should all save for retirement but what if you don't reach retirement age? Sorry to sound morbid but tomorrow isn't promised and one thing we don't have an abundance of us TIME. Cancer has been life affirming for me and health in older age to do and enjoy things is not guaranteed so for me, I'm enjoying life while I can. I wouldn't work at all if I didn't have to buy have a happy medium. 

    Best wishes x

  • I agree with this - secondary bone cancer in the right shoulder and just received a letter confirming the thyroid cancer I have is incurable but with treatment can keep it under control. Took early retirement and decided to enjoy life while I can. Am 55 now and going to look for a part time job in due course. This has been a wake up call for me.

    I wish you all the best for the future.please