Back to work

Thank you so much for the welcome. 

Hi. Take your time and be kind to yourself. 

Thank you so much. I will have a read. 

Hi Doubled, thank you for your post. I'm very similar and harder on myself than I should be. You are right, this is a marathon and we need to look after ourselves. Xx

Glad you posted this. I have been off 9 months so far and contemplating going back to work very soon. I couldn't work while having chemo, standing up all day wouldn't have helped, also I was hospitalised a few times with complications. Everyone is different. I am going to go back one day a week to start with. I am very fortunate in that my employers have been very understanding and while I Was away had someone to fill in for me who is quite willing to help out while I gradually return to work. 

I wish you all the best and here's to 'normality!'.

Linda xx

Hi Johnann,  I just wanted to jump in and welcome you to the Online Network.

~Ann-Marie x

Welcome to the Online Network xx

Hi Johnann,

It’s Lisa from the Policy Team. I just wanted to jump in to let you know that our latest edition of The Beacon focuses on returning to work. The magazine includes articles about returning to work after treatment, your rights at work and things you can do if your employer is not supporting you at work. It also includes quite a few stories from other women about their experiences either working while receiving treatment or returning to work after treatment.

If you’d like to have a look at some of the articles and stories, you can access the online version of The Beacon here.

Best regards,
Lisa

Hi I worked  during my chemo and on and off part time while going through my mastectomy and reconstruction and chemo. I'm always tired slowly getting better. I'm my hardest critic I want to be back to normal. Then everyone reminds me my body needs to catch up with my head.

I don't think I will ever have a normal life, what is normal. I don't think I have ever lived that. Be kind to yourself and appreciate every day because life is a blessing and we need to get as much out of it that we can . Have a great day I'm off to work

Hi.

I'm very new to this online forum. In fact this is the first time I have posted anything.

I have only just returned to work after completing my major treatments and although I mostly feel well and am only working a few hours twice a week compared to four 10 hour shifts a week I'm exhausted! At times I feel so tired that I feel physically sick. I'm already feeling frustrated and guilty and expect more of myself. Some of my friends have told me to "get on with it" which I haven't found very helpful.

Fortunately one of my colleagues was treated for breast cancer 9 years ago and admits she has never been the same since her treatment. She still feels tired and can only work 2 days at a time because of tiredness.

I also have a wonderful GP who thinks I'm doing too much already!

All of us are different. Age, fitness, surgery, chemo, radiotherapy, ongoing treatments, family situation, nature of work and lots of other things so we may all have different problems including tiredness.

I think the most important thing is to keep going and be kind to yourself. This is a marathon not a sprint. Keep taking baby steps and you will get there.