The last 6 weeks of my life feels like I've entered into some kind of alternate universe. Two surgeries later, I have been diagnosed with an 18mm, grade 3 triple negative, in one lymph node. I am 59 years old, no family history so feeling a lot of WTF moments. I am about to start 6 months of chemo and I know this is all unknown how each of us will react, but I really want to keep working if I can. I'm the sole breadwinner, so contemplating not working for 6 months is horrifying to me. My job, however, is working as a nurse in a GP practice, possibly not the best place to work if my immunity is impaired. I keep fluctuating between I'll give it a go and just do admin work out the back, to it's just not going to be feasible. I'm very fortunate to have an amazing workplace who are very flexible but I want to do the right thing by them as well. Any thoughts or suggestions??

Welcome to the site, it is a tough decision to make. I look back now and not sure how I did it but I did work through treatment. I'm a carer in the community and I did consider being around people but I decided that I needed to work as it was something else to think about. My boss and work mates were very supportive.. It was tough and I did get to a time when I had to stop as I had a fall. It was really tough but I'm glad I tried as it was a little bit of normal.I had chemo and wore a wig and no- one knew I had a wig.Good luck it is a tough trip but you will get there

Hi Jensen, i stopped working from the time my treatment started and that is also 6 months. I know some ladies continue to work but i couldnt see myself doing that with a stressful job. As you said the immune system is also affected and the last thing you want is to get sick yourself. I was sick last week with a virus and high temperature, not sure how i got it and ended up being in hospital for 3 nights and put my chemo off for the week.Being a sole breadwinner can have its challenges, remember to allow yourself couple of days to rest after chemo and take it easy from then on.My bc is 3.4cm and lymph nodes involved, started with chemo to shrink it, followed by op and 6 weeks of radiationGood luck to you and take care..

Hi Jensen, you are experiencing very normal feelings. It is a huge shock & overwhelming in the beginning. I was diagnosed last July, lumpectomy & sentinel node biopsy & then mastectomy & axilla clearance with 3 cancerous nodes. I did 4 x AC & 12 Taxol. I work 3 days per week & worked all the way through with 2 days off. I was worried about immunity too as I work in a Dr's clinic but was lucky to not catch anything. I had bad days but didn't suffer too much. Everybody is different but I think you can plan to work & just see how it goes & if too much then cut down your hours or work less days. My employers were very supportive & in the end it worked out.

Hi JensenI remember feeling just the way you do. The short and possibly unhelpful answer is that you may not know if you can continue working until you start treatment. It's not so much about immunity as to how you feel yourself. Some people work right through - I did, and the only germs I had to contend with were my own (small problem with fluid build up!). I too wore a wig. All my colleagues knew I was having treatment because I told them, but it wasn't obvious to anyone else. I looked well and my "hair" was much more attractive than my frizzy locks when my own hair started to grow back (it was very welcome all the same).But I had no nausea, no aching, no fatigue. All of these can knock people about. A flexible work place is a wonderful start. Plan to work, but plan to make changes if they are necessary. 6 months sounds forever but it will pass. Good luck.

Hi Jensen, Can't help as I didn't have chemo but just wanted to send you a hug. Can you perhaps see how you go and possibly organise to take a couple of days off if needed when you get to your lowest peak in the treatment cycle? Xx

Treatment and working | BCNA Online Network

19 Replies

lrb_03
Member
8 years ago
Hi @Jensen, and a shout out to @Cassina. I, too, am a nurse. I was working in General Practice when I was diagnosed 2 years ago. I had chemo first. I worked most of the way through, with the odd bit of sick leave. With the support of my manager, I reduced my hours to 3 days/week, Mon, Wed, Friday. This gave me recovery time, whilst still working, as I had very limited sick leave. I'd only been working there 2 years at the time. I further reduced my hours to conserve sick leave, to 2 days/ week when I had my surgery. I've since, sadly, had to change jobs, as lymphoedema requiring that I wear a compression sleeve and glove have meant I could no longer work in a clinical setting.
Take care
Lyn
melclarity
Member
8 years ago
Cassina i worked for about 6 weeks starting chemo, but i was so ill i had no choice but to stop and ended up off work for 3 months which was the remainder of the school year. My standard was push through you have to work. I couldn't afford to not work being a single parent. Seems the universe had other ideas it was the best thing for me and i learnt a valuable lesson for myself finally. Never will i put work above myself 2yrs later i still dont. Finally learnt to put me first above everything to nurture me first time in my life. Things just worked out and lucky i found 1 of my supers had inbuilt income protection but it wasnt until 4 months after treatment. Im back to work tomorrow on 3 days after 12 weeks off from surgery but im looking forward to seeing my Autistic kids. I have a boy who's been crossing the dates off til I teturn which melts my heart. So do what you feel you can and want...health first.. you first x Melinda
Jensen
Member
8 years ago
Hi Cassina. That sounds tough with those long hours. I have worked this last week as I've been feeling pretty good but I'm stuffed after 5-6 hours which is frustrating for me. The patients keep complimenting me on my new hairdo but my work colleagues have all been so supportive. It is hard being the cancer person in the workplace I agree. I hope you can find a good balance for you. Take care x
Cassina
Member
8 years ago
Jensen, I am working but not very well, forgetful and vague, but it keeps my mind off symtoms however I am thinking of shorter hours and by 5 I am tired and often in bed by 7, as it is warm and comforting! I am getting tired of being obvioulsy the cancer person in the workplace, although everyone has been nice it is a challenge
Jensen
Member
8 years ago
Hi thanks Cassina. I have now just done my second chemo. I tried to work a few shifts after the first round but then ended up in hospital for a week with febrile neutropenia..not really related to working but has made me more anxious about it all.
I am going to give it another go though as my leave is being rapidly eaten up. I felt so well before I was admitted to hospital that I had been planning to go in for the whole following week! It was a bit of a blow. Good on you for working...it is certainly very tiring but I have come to the realisation that I need to put my health first.
Take care
Penny
Cassina
Member
8 years ago
Hi Jensen, I too am a nurse and trying to work, which takes my mind off.Work mates are supportive and Oncologist said you are not at risk of getting any infection, just be careful. I am however very tired at the end of the day and have a long drive home, I have realised the worse symtoms are at night. I am contemplating asking to work 8- 4 and leave early, as I have used all my sick leave. I could take LSL but will try to press on, despite some nurses saying "you are an Idiot to try and work"patients however are very accepting
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
Jensen, I think the thing is just be true to you no matter what that is, and great to investigate all things if you cannot work. I had a terrible time, Im a single parent and Centrelink were a nightmare, NO HELP at all! they deemed I would have to spend over $10,000 of my own money to support myself before they would help support me with sickness benefits. Ummm so Ive worked hard all my life paid my taxes and couldnt get assistance. I literally had to support myself for 3 months that I couldnt work. Thankfully I found by accident the clause of income protection that I didnt know existed. The universe was so looking out for me. What I learnt through it all is for me....its been about me and my body healing...not pushing myself to do more and be more...but to stop and put myself first something I never did. Everyone is different...but it has been the biggest positive to come out of the whole thing. Unfortunately Ive been doing this since 2011 and 2015 was a recurrence, I didnt learn my lesson and it was so apparent I just never made time for me...because before I left my marriage, my life was about everyone else...once I left and took my kids and started again, my life had to be about my kids only...its just the way it was and had to be....so when I got hit again...I listened to me...Im so blessed to have the 2 best kids in the world who have weathered the past 6yrs of pure hell and we are all so happy strangely lol because I now put me first so I can make sure everyone else is ok..xo
Jensen
Member
9 years ago
Thank you so much everyone for your comments. It has helped me to be a bit clearer in my mind. You are all amazing xo
Jensen
Member
9 years ago
Thanks Melinda...you are so right...I am trying to control it and hate that I can't. I'm still undecided but it has been so good to hear everyone's thoughts and experiences.
xoxo
Unicornkisses
Member
9 years ago
I am currently going through my second cycle of FEC chemo. On day 5 and there is no way I can work until at least day 14 after, I can't even drive until day 10 as I am shakey, blurred vision and have no concentration. I did manage to do some mornings work last cycle, but with a Neulasta injection this time it will be an unknown again.
It is indeed an unknown, how your body will react.
I was also in the position where my white blood cells were very low so chemo was delayed, not a great situation to be in if you are around a lot of potentially sick people.

Some people do work through and have fewer side effects, but perhaps you had best investigate a plan B in case you can't, such as Centrelink payments or whatever you can access.
Your body really needs to be taken care of through treatment, and you need to be as stress free as you can manage.

Good luck and I hope you get through it as easily as possible.