After having a hysterectomy in my early 20s I developed pain and bleeding 2 years later. I was rushed in for an emergency MRI scan and was off work pending a cancer diagnosis. Work pressured me to tell then what was wrong so I told them it was cancer and that I would be having radiotherapy. I have now found out that the cells they found were actually endometrial and not cancerous. They are trying me with daily hormone injections and if that fails a short course of radiotherapy (not guarenteed. Work have been very good but want a full drs report. How do I now tell them I don't have cancer...do you think they will understand? My GP is happy to say I was being tested for cancer but obviously the bottom line is I told them something not true and I'm scared to admit that I'm now fine. They were treating the cancer as mitigating circumstances but will this condition be seen as the same. I'm so scared of telling them but they will find out from the report if I dont tell them. any advise?
2007-03-22 23:40:56 · 5 answers · asked by Sparkle 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
Firstly, it's good news that it's not cancer, you must be very relieved.
Secondly, any good employer should be sympathetic to this sort of case. Being told that you might have cancer would be incredibly traumatic and as such should be treated with sympathy. Tell them the truth (always the easiest way) and if they are not sympathetic then that will tell you something very important about your employers.
2007-03-22 23:47:14 · answer #1 · answered by MattK 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to tell your boss that for a long time they suspected cancer and they advised you of possible treatments in the future accordingly. However, as you had more tests they are now confirmed that you haven't got cancer and they will give you different treatment and there's still a small chance that you may have to go through radiotherapy. You were not lying, you are not a doctor and you can only relay information that the doctors have told you. Tell your boss that although you were very frightened to learn that you may have cancer, now you feel much better and relieved that it is not cancer after all. Many people have cancer-scares, only to find out that it isn't cancer. I think I'd rather have a cancer scare and find out it isn't after all, than have an undiagnosed cancer. Good luck, don't fear your bosses, your doctors will back you up.
2007-03-22 23:53:15 · answer #2 · answered by Luvfactory 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, take in the doctors report telling them that thankfully after all the tests were complete you were told it was not cancerous. Any sympathetic employer would be relieved to know you are ok and since the doctors did in fact tell you it could be cancerous in the beginning, you really didn't lie. You just told them what you were told by the doctor.
Don't worry. You didn't lie - at least not at first, you just didn't tell the truth when you learned the truth. Not much you can do except take the doctors report with the "good" news of no cancer.
2007-03-23 00:56:47 · answer #3 · answered by GirlinNB 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, under HIPPA regulations, your employer does NOT need to know the exact medical reason you have been out and taking time off and the doctor's report and reflect this.
This being said, I would be upfront with your employer and, as others have said, you had a scare, the doctor was looking for cancer, found it actually was not cancer but may still have to go through the same treatment. Since it seems you have an understanding employer, I would not really worry about it.
If they do try to give you a hard time, and you have been with the employer for atleast a year, I would ask them to give you the paperwork for FMLA lesve. This covers for up to 12 weeks of time with a 1 year period. Including partial days.
2007-03-23 00:49:23 · answer #4 · answered by Mom of 2 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are a U.S. employee, your employer is out of line to ask about your medical conditions. The fact that you volunteered information is your decision, and you may want to correct that information, but neither you nor your doctor are under any obligation to release info about your medical state to your employer.
Under the HIPAA laws, the only info your employer should have access to is:
-can Mary perform the duties of her job without restriction?
-if Mary has restrictions, what are they and can we accommodate them (e.g., can't lift more than 20#, requires intermittent family medical leave once per week for chemotherapy, etc.)
Glad to hear that you are on the road to recovery - best of luck!
2007-03-23 04:28:46 · answer #5 · answered by Mel 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋