Hi, I was diagnosed with triple-positive breast cancer in April 2021. Had a mastectomy and axillary lymph node clearance in May 2021 by Dr Di Hastrich at the Mount Hospital in Perth. Will start a TCH chemo regimen in May 2021under the guidance of Dr Albert Gan. I started in a new job at Arc Infrastructure in March 2021. My employer has been super supportive. I am concerned about my ability to keep working during chemo. I lost my wife to breast cancer. I am not afraid of dying, but rather want to know how I can best live my life going forwards.

Dear @pnienaber It’s a tricky thing chemo - reactions vary wildly and it’s extremely hard to predict individual responses. I had a pretty positive experience - six months of chemo (A/C and Taxol) and I worked throughout. I took a day off for four A/C infusions but only as long as it took for Taxol (my day oncology was near work). I did have side effects, but no nausea, fatigue or chemo brain which are the most common inhibitors of keeping working. I lost my hair (wore a wig, didn’t feel the need to run up a flag) but all my work colleagues knew, I didn’t feel a need to keep it secret - became a bit of a nag about getting mammograms! How you respond to chemo has, as far as I can tell, absolutely nothing to do with your attitude - being positive is more pleasant for those around you, but very positive people can be floored, temporarily, by chemo. With a supportive boss, have an A and a B plan. The B plan may give you some working at home options, or a day or two recovery time, whatever you find you need. You usually get a pretty good idea of your pattern in a couple of weeks. I had a mastectomy and axillary clearance eight years ago (not triple negative). Life after bc has been very good - you’ve had more than your share so very best wishes for treatment and beyond.

Thank you so much for all the lovely comments and inspiring stories. I think for me the big takeaway is to wait and see how the chemo affects me. I have been in hospital again this week to receive intravenous antibiotics as my axilla operation site had become infected. Chemo will now be delayed by a week but in the scheme of things that is nothing.

Hi @pnienaber I echo what everyone else has said about chemo and just wanted to say an extra "Hi" from a fellow rail infrastructure company worker (I'm at ARTC). I was lucky enough to work all the way through my treatment (chemo, surgery and radiation) with just a few days off and a lot of working from home. I was incredibly busy at the time organising rail and sleeper deliveries for Inland Rail but my wonderful manager was happy for me to work flexibly so I could stay on top of everything while managing appointments, fatigue etc. Being able to keep working definitely helped my mental heath :)

Had my first round of chemo 10 days ago. Having an infusaport inserted before my 2nd round of chemo. Plan to have my COVID vaccination 4 days before 3rd round of chemo. So far so good

@traveltext...Perhaps you can give some male support to @pnienaber. Welcome brother and I'm so sorry that you find yourself here, belonging to a club nobody really wants to join. I'm also so very sorry about your wife and your loss of her to this awful disease. Big hugs((())).

66-year old male with triple-positive breast cancer - still working

24 Replies

arpie
Member
5 years ago
All the best mate xx
MicheleR
Member
5 years ago
@pnienaber great to hear you are doing ok.
Locksley
Member
5 years ago
@pnienaber wishing all the best with your treatment.
AllyJay
Member
5 years ago
Great to hear that your chemo has started. For me, it reduced my anxiety as I felt "At last, they're doing something". (I had chemo before surgery and had thoughts of cancer cells merrily spreading all over my body, unchecked). You will also find your port very handy, as it removes the 'hunt the vein' for each treatment. I wish you well as you continue with your treatment.
June1952
Member
5 years ago
Well done @pnienaber. We are all thinking of you. Keep in touch with us when you can.
traveltext
Member
5 years ago
Good to hear that things are going well @pnienaber. You might expect hair loss to begin after the next chemo!
pnienaber
Member
5 years ago
Had my first round of chemo 10 days ago. Having an infusaport inserted before my 2nd round of chemo. Plan to have my COVID vaccination 4 days before 3rd round of chemo. So far so good
MicheleR
Member
5 years ago
Hope you feel better @pnienaber.
arpie
Member
5 years ago
xxx All the best @pnienaber - I hope the infection is under control soon & your treatment can continue xx

Just make sure you take the anti nausea tabs they give you ... and drink plenty of water to flush it out again afterwards xx
AllyJay
Member
5 years ago
Unfortunately, it's that old "Hurry up and wait" scenario. Chin up Pieter, you've got this assorted group cheering you on from the sidelines.