Ask HN: I Have Cancer. What Should I Do?

I've been practically bedridden for 9 months with medical problems. I've also been producing code that entire time.

Everyone is right that you should not freak out until you get all the info from the doctors.

But lets assume you are going to be sick for a while. Once you get into that phase, figure out 2 things:

1) When can you be focused and productive? Work at those times.

2) How can you take care of yourself, stay sane, have fun, and not let a disease ruin your emotional stability. This is just as important,if not more so, than the work.

One last thing - this is your life we are talking about. Startups are just jobs. Keep your priorities straight as you make decisions.

Don't have a coverage gap and don't use COBRA instead of your employer's group coverage.

Dont pull a Jobs and go all homeopathic, and follow your doctors advice.... But smoke, eat and otherwise imbibe a shitton of cannabanoids (eg marijuana). Including drinking the juice of the plant (non-psycoqctive). There is.a large lack of scientific studies on cannabanoids due to its schedule 1 status, but the majority of the stuff that is used in government approved programs is actually extracted and then sprayed onto plant matter (eg its not the real deal, some of the 400+ cannabanoid compounds are missing), so be wary of stufies using the missisipi university stuff. (Im a combat vet with ptsd so it helps me in a different way)

Then i would make sure your legal stuff is taken care of, just in case, such as power of attorney and your will. The last time I went to Iraq i included my will and video messages yo my family and friends in a safe deposit box only accesible to my executor.

Then I would start getting all philosophical and reading while doing chemo and hope for the best, and live life a day at a time.

Much love to you through this tough time (talk about understatement eh?)

(A) Don't give up. You're young and probably have a good chance of beating it.

(B) Do not let your employment impact or hurt your health. Your first priority should 100% be getting great healthcare, not saving the startup money. (On other hand, you absolutely should allow your health to impact your employment. If the startup isn't considerate about your health, drop them like a hot potato.)

First, I wish all the best of luck to the OP. It's such a scary thing to go through, but it's something you will get through, like many others said, the outcomes nowadays are so much better than even 10 years ago.

As for the insurance, could someone explain this to me. I thought that with ACA (Obama Care) the pre existing condition was not enforceable anymore an you could get a private insurance based on your age, income, etc, not medical history. Am I wrong about that? If that's not the case, than what's the point of all this ACA nonsense to begin with. I thought that forcing me and other people to buy insurance was exactly so someone like the OP wouldn't be left out in the cold when they really need the help. Am I missing something.

Also, if pre existing conditions do not matter any more, how can the insurance company raise the premiums for the company the OP would be working for. It doesn't make much sense to me. In any case, take care of your self first and foremost.