Worried about money not death

Dear Pat.

I've no experience of your situation, but I do want to wish you well and remind you that any form of depression is likely to suppress your immune system to some extent, which is the very last thing you need as you strive to maintain your health.

Very best wishes,

Jonathan.

Patbe

I totally understand your situation , for me the run of the mill stuff always took precedent over my PC problem, not sure if I would have been the same if I had been diagnosed with an aggressive type though.

With reference to your last sentence though, u don't know at this stage that u will be unable to work in the future.

At your age u must be receiving or about to receive your state pension which will obviously help. Could u not consider working part-time at some stage? 

Also there may be some benefits that u could claim?

All is not lost

Steve

Dear Jonathan 

Thank you very much for that. I remember now reading about the damaging effects of depression on the immune system. Knowing this is a very good motivator to get whatever help is needed such as CBT to be overcome depression 

Pat

Hi Steve 

Thanks very much for this.  I am not in any financial difficulties now but my worry is for the future, if and when I have to go on hormone therapy and chemo and am no longer able to work. My plan was to work as late as possible so I will just have to wait and see what turns out to be possible down the line. As the joke goes “ How to make God laugh? Tell him your plans” 

Hi,

I would contact your MacMillan nurse as they can advise you on what benefits you and your partner/spouse may be eligible for.  If you do not have access to a Macmillan nurse then if you have a Cancer Self Help Group near you ssuch as a Maggies Centre at your cancer hospital or another Cancer Charity such as Tenovus if you are in Wales as they always have a Benefits expert who will advise you of any benefits you are eligible for and also help you fill in the forms. 

I wish you all the best for your treatment.

Des

Hi Des

Thanks very much for your advice. 

Rgds

Pat

Sorry to butt in on a group I'm not eligible to join but can you consider asking for early retirement on ill health grounds? Guess it depends who u work for n what your work pension would b.

Hi 

Thanks a lot for your advice. You are not butting in.  However you misunderstand my position. Without going into details about my finances, my point is that my pension will not be adequate. i have a few years left on my current contract before I retire. I have not been with this current employer for a long period of time as you assume. I have some possible solutions but one of them was working for at least the next five years. There is no opportunity for “early retirement “ - that is what I fear. My worry is that while financially OK now, progression of the disease may push me out of work ahead of time resulting in great financial difficulties.

There is much focus in these forums on diagnosis and treatments and prognoses, understandably. But there is s whole other dimension, the impact of cancer on work, finances, family commitments, retirement, financial stress an mental health. Cancer is bad enough but some also have to cope with the financial consequences. 

Pat

I sympathise with your situation Pat. It used to be the case when you hit 60 or 65 a company pension scheme kicked in. With the demise of final salary pensions individuals are facing a bleak retirement.

I've saved into defined contribution all my live but the pot is small.  I'm sorry for your situation and trying not to sound dismissive things sometimes seem worse than they are. It would be worth speaking to someone (Macmillan) about current and future entitlements to help you put things in perspective. Perhaps (if you haven't already) draw up a budget, look at essentials housing costs, utitities and food. Consider areas that you'd be prepared to compromise and areas you wouldn't.

I hope you can speak to someone to put things into perspective and you can move forward.

Sorry for getting wrong end of stick. 

Youngman talks a lot of  sense