Cancer, age work against her when job hunting
“Me and my brothers took care of our parents before they died. They were both in their 50s. It was tough to watch them deteriorate. They didn’t have all the money in the world, and they had to spend loads on insulin. I’ve told my doctor that I cannot get on insulin because I just don’t have it.
“Besides uterine cancer, I’m dealing with diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure and a low thyroid. But I can’t even afford the prescriptions I have right now. To be honest, I think the low income die early because it’s not easy for us to get help. And the help that’s out there, it’s like an act of Congress to get it.
“I had food stamps, but they put a sanction on me because I wasn’t getting enough hours at my job. I worked at Walmart for 20-something years, but that ended. Now I’m working part time as a receptionist during tax season. I’ll need to find a second job for the off-season.
“But it seems like fewer employers want to hire older people part time. The younger people are the ones who usually get the job. And when they see the word cancer on your job application, it’s almost like you have leprosy. I feel like there’s a stigma out there with cancer. They may not speak it. But I think the discrimination is real.”
— Glenda George (Anahuac)
(Note: Glenda George passed away on April 7, 2020.)
Related:
