What if your cancer treatment lasts six months — but your recovery takes another year?
A recent CNA article talks about a second battle beginning after the end of treatment.
When discussing critical illness coverage, I sometimes hear:
“Cancer treatment shouldn’t take that long. Why would I need so much coverage?”
But I think we may be asking the wrong question.
One survivor took nine months of no-pay leave while her treatment stabilised. Another returned to work only to discover that the fatigue set in far faster than expected.
One employer interviewed put it simply:
“Recovery isn’t linear.”
And that has financial implications.
Imagine completing treatment but still struggling with fatigue, reduced stamina or “chemo fog”. You may technically be able to return to work.
But would you want financial circumstances to force you back before you feel ready?
Perhaps critical illness planning shouldn’t only provide enough money to get us through treatment.
It should provide enough flexibility to give ourselves time to recover.
That could mean taking six months of no-pay leave. Working part-time. Reducing responsibilities. Or simply removing the pressure to rush.
We cannot predict how long recovery will take.
But we can ask ourselves a more uncomfortable question:
If I needed another year to recover properly, could I afford to take it?
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