Man's Fight to Care
- When Andrew Ward’s wife was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, he requested a sabbatical from work but instead was permitted to work from home 50% of the time.
- After a few months, his employers demanded Ward start working in the office full-time again and claimed he was lying about his wife’s cancer battle. Ward did not return to the office and was fired.
- Ward took his employers to court claiming he was wrongfully terminated, and won the case. Being a caregiver for someone with cancer can be a full-time job. While it’s possible to juggle more than one responsibility, it can take a serious toll on someone's mental and physical health. It’s important that caregivers advocate for both themselves and the person they’re looking after.
Ward’s wife was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in February 2019, and immediately had to go through an intensive treatment process of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Ward asked his employer in June for an unpaid sabbatical (break from work) in order to be by his wife’s side during treatment, but the request was denied. Instead, they allowed Ward to work from home 50% of the time so that he could focus on both his wife and work. However, after a few months his employers claimed that Ward was not performing his duties, and demanded he return to the office full-time. Ward ignored the demands, and was fired August 2019.
Read MoreStage 3 Breast Cancer: Facts & Treatment
Stage 3 breast cancer typically refers to a tumor which may have invaded nearby skin or muscle tissue, meaning it has progressed to other parts of the body. In some cases lymph nodes near your breast and/or under your armpit are involved.
Treatment for stage 3 breast cancer differs from treatment for earlier stages. In most cases, the patient will need to go through chemotherapy. Thanks to a major shift in chemotherapy called the Oncotype DX test doctors will be able to determine if chemo is necessary and potentially understand the risk of side-effects.
Related: How to Deal With the Side Effects of Chemotherapy
Other treatment options can also depend on the patient’s specific type of breast cancer, such as if the cancer is hormone receptor-positive (high levels of the HER2 protein on the outside of their cancer cells). In this case, aggressive hormonal therapy may be offered.
Dr. Elizabeth Comen breaks down stage 3 breast cancer
The Role of a Caregiver
For many people, being a caregiver for someone with cancer can be a full-time job. While it’s possible to juggle more than one responsibility, it can take a serious toll on someone's mental and physical health. It’s important that caregivers advocate for both themselves and the person they’re looking after.
This was the case for Justine Almada and her siblings, who helped as their mother, Paulette, battled anal cancer. She's taken her experience and used it to raise raising awareness about the disease, and she shared a special message for caregivers while speaking to SurvivorNet. Justine was one of her mother's main caregivers throughout treatment, and worked extremely hard to find more treatment options for her. Eventually, Paulette passed away in 2010 surrounded by Justine and her family. Seeing how cancer affects the family taught Justine how important caregivers are for patients.
"It's really difficult, and also really wonderful at the same time," Justine said when discussing her own experience as a caregiver. "Because you know you're giving your loved one the best chance they have … and I hope you're really proud of what you're doing everyday."
Justine Almada, whose mother passed away from cancer, thanks caregivers for all they do
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