Call me CRANKY PANTS... a massive rant

I took long service leave between surgery and chemo and as I did have a reconstruction it took almost 6 weeks to physically recover. I've  continued off work as chemo has been physically and emotionally difficult and rather than just pretend all is okay quite frankly I'd  rather just retreat and take whatever time I need to recover. I was referred and stayed in the public health system and I still waited 5 weeks for surgery as I wanted reconstruction, had a bilateral and I think because it was small. Surgery though showed it a bit bigger and a higher grade than they first thought also. I started a cancer journey via facebook and have included some work friends. This gives me an opportunity to express what is happening and how I am feeling. I also showed my shaved head...my pre makeup chemo face...which is now washed out with black rings under my eyes...so they know why I "look so well" as I got fed up with the comment. I have just decided to not dwell on what people say as it just gripes me, and quite frankly I don't  need any more stress.

So my suggestion is...take all the time you need. Work will survive without you there ...just think if you had a car accident tomorrow they'd  have to carry on regardless. I've  done the carry on thing myself and ended up off work with a major depression, and nobody thanked me for all those days working when sick, working back etc so with this new job I have I just decided I need to look after me as nobody else will.

Hope all goes well with chemo. It is hard work both physically and mentally but what choice do we have? Take care. Kath