Mercedes, a 47-year-old polished career woman, was diagnosed with Stage II lung cancer. She had just finished her second dose of chemotherapy and was not feeling well at all when she called a patient advocate to sort out her medical leave from work.
Mercedes told her advocate that she lived alone, was having trouble eating and regaining her strength and was concerned that every time she felt like her old self, she had to go in for another treatment.
The patient advocate knew that what Mercedes was feeling was not unusual – often times patients facing cancer can really benefit from meeting with a nutritionist to get some concrete tips on how to get enough nutrients during treatment. It is also important for patients to talk to their doctors about treatment side-effects – it may be possible for the chemo dosage or timing to be altered. The advocate shared this information with Mercedes and also helped her understand her rights to medical leave under the Federal Family Medical Leave Act and her state’s companion law.
