Last week, I saw this article on how many hours we should be working before work starts to have a negative effect on our health.They found the work limit for a healthy life should be set at 39 hours a week, rather than the 48-hour week limit set internationally about 80 years ago.You can read the entire article here.How did your diagnosis affect work? Were you able to take time off for treatment? What was it like returning to work?

Ummm...still not working a 40 hour week yet...5 months on. I'm on 4 days and will go up to 32 hours next week.

I continued to work full time throughout treatment, on Chemo days I went to Chemo in the morning & work in the afternoon...For me, I feel, it was in my best interest to be at work & not at home with nothing to occupy my mind but the thought of illness.

primek said: Ummm...still not working a 40 hour week yet...5 months on. I'm on 4 days and will go up to 32 hours next week. Is that a good balance for you or would you like to work more?Cate64 said: I continued to work full time throughout treatment, on Chemo days I went to Chemo in the morning & work in the afternoon...For me, I feel, it was in my best interest to be at work & not at home with nothing to occupy my mind but the thought of illness. I can understand that. Work can help some people from feeling restless or anxious. I suppose it also depends on what you do and how supportive your workplace is.

I work 3 days per week & had 10 days off with mastectomy & lymph node clearance & then worked through chemo. Some days I didn't feel so good but it was a distraction & they left it entirely up to me as to whether I would come in.

Like cate64, I was able to work quite easily and preferred to do so. Gave me continuity and was very positive for morale. My staff were very comfortable about me doing so from the outset, but as It became clear that nothing much had changed, we all more or less forgot about it (at work anyway). I'm an event manager, so if my energy/mobility had been affected, it simply would not have worked. I feel I was very lucky as I don't think I would have handled being at home (hardly the time to take a long trip!!) for an extended time very well. While many people find time away from work restorative and constructive, I do feel for those who can't work, feel their life has been totally turned upside down including their career, and of course for those who face a loss of income at a time they may really need it.

Your health and work | BCNA Online Network

15 Replies

Afraser
Member
9 years ago
Like cate64, I was able to work quite easily and preferred to do so. Gave me continuity and was very positive for morale. My staff were very comfortable about me doing so from the outset, but as It became clear that nothing much had changed, we all more or less forgot about it (at work anyway). I'm an event manager, so if my energy/mobility had been affected, it simply would not have worked. I feel I was very lucky as I don't think I would have handled being at home (hardly the time to take a long trip!!) for an extended time very well. While many people find time away from work restorative and constructive, I do feel for those who can't work, feel their life has been totally turned upside down including their career, and of course for those who face a loss of income at a time they may really need it.
Glemmis
Member
9 years ago
I work 3 days per week & had 10 days off with mastectomy & lymph node clearance & then worked through chemo. Some days I didn't feel so good but it was a distraction & they left it entirely up to me as to whether I would come in.
Cosette
Member
9 years ago

primek said:

Ummm...still not working a 40 hour week yet...5 months on. I'm on 4 days and will go up to 32 hours next week.

Is that a good balance for you or would you like to work more?
Cate64 said:

I continued to work full time throughout treatment, on Chemo days I went to Chemo in the morning & work in the afternoon...

For me, I feel, it was in my best interest to be at work & not at home with nothing to occupy my mind but the thought of illness.

I can understand that. Work can help some people from feeling restless or anxious. I suppose it also depends on what you do and how supportive your workplace is.
Cate64
Member
9 years ago
I continued to work full time throughout treatment, on Chemo days I went to Chemo in the morning & work in the afternoon...

For me, I feel, it was in my best interest to be at work & not at home with nothing to occupy my mind but the thought of illness.
primek
Member
9 years ago
Ummm...still not working a 40 hour week yet...5 months on. I'm on 4 days and will go up to 32 hours next week.

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Your health and work

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