Forum Discussion
Chemotherapy and Working
A little bit about me I work at a primary school and employed to work with children in a small group setting and a number of people are quite concerned about me working during chemotherapy treatment with the amount of germs children carry through winter.
It has now come to a time where I am now making decisions regarding my work and what that might look like for the rest of 2019. I am finding it quite challenging, as I love my job and what I do. I work with many amazing people, I am surrounded by caring and considerate people and am finding myself fighting the urge to take the time off. But in order to protect my health I need to put myself first. A slightly foreign experience.
Can anyone who has worked in a similar setting offer me any advice on this, or is it the best decision for me to just take the time off.
28 Replies
- https://lgfb.org.au/workshop/
The link above will give you the opportunity to find a session near you for when you are ready
Enjoy the session as they are beneficial
Take care - @KyzaD69 The look good feel better sessions I think can be booked online. No charge. You can attend as soon as you are diagnosed if you like.
- @Glynnis that's so great to hear you accessed the Sickness Benefit, the only way I would be allowed to go on it was, I had to exhaust all my leave including sick leave. I also had a job to go back to but that made no difference. There had to be a certain amount of time had to pass as well from what I remember, then the final insult was as I had some savings thank goodness as I needed it! they deemed I had to spend at least $9,000 of my own money before they would put me on it. By the time I would have qualified I would have been finished treatment. I remember at the time how incredibly distressing it all was, with no solution from them, not to mention the numerous calls and having to find time to go in to try and sort it out. I conceded in the end that they weren't going to help me, thankfully VicSuper were so incredibly caring and helpful in so many ways. x
- @Sister How does the look good feel good sessions work. Do I need to book it myself and do you need to wait until your hair is falling out as I would like to do it. Its such a good service to have.
- @Sister I do have Netflix and my sister has given me access to her Stan account so will be able to watch lots of trashy TV. I also attend a really good gym and work with a wonderful PT which I am planning to continue for as long as I can. Right now I am thinking of walking half an hour and doing 1/2 hour Pilates class on my good days. The appointment still keeping coming so I think i might have made the right decision as it looks like I might be at the hospital more then I would of been at work on a normal day LOL.
- @KyzaD69 you have to do what's right for you and you have made that decision and I think it's the right one for you, when I was doing chemo, ops and radiation I took 12 months leave of absence for me it was right. @melclarity centrelink put me on the sickness benefit for the 12 months as I had a job to go back too it really helped financially not a lot of money but took pressure of a bit
- @KyzaD69 sounds like you have a plan, which is great, it is overwhelming on every front! The key in all of it is putting yourself first, this is what I learnt especially when it came to work, I had to step back physically, mentally and emotionally and love me through the 6 months. I had the added pressure of having to work or do the income protection purely as I was a single parent, something there needs to be more help available for. I remember at the time getting financial help was very difficult. Centrelink are useless! All the best x
- @KyzaD69 As others have said, you won't know how you're going to be affected until you start but there's the emotional resilience aspect as well. When you're in a school, you need to be "present" all the time when you're there and it's difficult to continually be taking days off. I think you're making a good decision - regardless of how you manage chemo, you can take some time to look after yourself. Investigate targeted exercise classes - the Victorian folk can give you info on what might be available; do a Look Good, Feel Better session; sign up for Netflix if you haven't got it...
- Good idea. Always follow your own feelings, this way you have more time to get your mind around everything. Best wishes for your treatment.
- Take care of you as this is a huge event that you will get through but can be all consuming and a little fearful until you settle into it and realise you've got this! Plenty of support to be had here as we all help each other through!
Take care
