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Early retirement after cancer, has anyone else done this?

JaneRu
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I'm 56 and have just had surgery for breast cancer which was caught early. I am waiting to start radiotherapy and went back to work today after being off for 3-weeks. I have been told I can expect a full recovery from this breast cancer but it has made me reevaluate things and I'm wondering whether I've had the gypsy's warning so to speak and should finish work while I'm healthy and relatively Young. I have some money saved in a pension which I could eek out until I get a state pension but it will mean cutting back on luxuries. I enjoy being at home and being a housewife but I have a relatively good job so the decision isn't straightforward. What are your thoughts on work and careers after a cancer diagnosis? Have any of you taking the plunge and retired? It's quandary to know what to do  I just don't want to waste my life at work when I'm I only have a short amount of time to do the things I want to do.

Parents
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    Hello,

    im 56 and took early retirement after a breast cancer diagnosis. I don't regret it one bit, I loved my job ( managing a care home) but it was too demanding after all my treatments. I had financial stability so the decision was made even easier....

    I hope you come to the right decision for you love ️ But life is short and sometimes you have to put yourself first xx

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    Hello,

    im 56 and took early retirement after a breast cancer diagnosis. I don't regret it one bit, I loved my job ( managing a care home) but it was too demanding after all my treatments. I had financial stability so the decision was made even easier....

    I hope you come to the right decision for you love ️ But life is short and sometimes you have to put yourself first xx

Children
  • Offline in reply to Marlyn

    Hi 

    I'm 52, was diagnosed recently and thinking I need to stop work as I've been given 5 years.  Work just doesn't matter any more.  I am lucky as I have pensions and savings, although I'm not sure I'll be able to get at the pensions until I am 55.    Hubby is retiring in May 22 so that's the target after the school year (exams) finishes too.  
    My current concern is "how" to leave work.  I don't have any physical inhibitors to working.   I am not sure I could get signed-off sick by my GP.  But equally I want some privacy to my health situation.  As soon as I hand my notice in the standard questions will follow:  "what are your plans", "where are you going?".  If I said I was retiring people would say lots of nice things about it and be envious which is hardly the attention I need.  We still need to put our daughter through Uni.    And then there is the whole leaving do shenanigans, with well wishing, etc.   
    I could take an extended leave of absence perhaps.  And then "leave properly" or arrange an announcement when I feel ready for it. 
    I know that my employer has to make reasonable adjustments for my situation, but this is intended as a work enabler rather than the leaving experience!  

    Lots of options to think about.  Need to check what my contract says about sick leave/pay.  

    Oh and slightly related!  Due to the timescales and my pre-cancer plans, first thing I checked was the death-in-service benefits for my husband and kids (17 and 20).  5x salary.  Great, that will help everyone I thought.  Well that lasted just a few days, until current standpoint described above took hold LOL

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