My Path results

Hi Viv,

Sounds like a good plan.I'm a nurse too and although my job is not physically hard,it's mentally draining cos I do telephone counselling.I went back to work 4 weeks post mastectomy and was ok.When it came to chemo I decided to take sick leave and long service.We are often short staffed at my work and I thought it less stressful all round to take leave.That way they wouldn't have to try and replace me at short notice(which they can't!)and I wouldn't feel guilty if I needed to go home.One of my colleagues had chemo too and she had an arrangement to have one week off,part time second week and full time 3rd wk.She paced herself that way but it nearly did her in.But financially she had to keep working.My motto has become - prepare for the worst but hope for the best. Or I suppose you could say -stay positive but be realistic.

                                     Tonya xx

Hi Viv,

Sounds like a good plan.I'm a nurse too and although my job is not physically hard,it's mentally draining cos I do telephone counselling.I went back to work 4 weeks post mastectomy and was ok.When it came to chemo I decided to take sick leave and long service.We are often short staffed at my work and I thought it less stressful all round to take leave.That way they wouldn't have to try and replace me at short notice(which they can't!)and I wouldn't feel guilty if I needed to go home.One of my colleagues had chemo too and she had an arrangement to have one week off,part time second week and full time 3rd wk.She paced herself that way but it nearly did her in.But financially she had to keep working.My motto has become - prepare for the worst but hope for the best. Or I suppose you could say -stay positive but be realistic.

                                     Tonya xx

Thanks everyone for the comments, I appreciate your input and support tremendously. I can see that I will just have to wait and see/ If I need chemo then I guess I will have to take it one day at a time one treatment at a time and see how I go. I am nearly 3 wks since my surgery and feeling quite good. I am going to do a night shift tomorrow night and see how I go. ( I am a nurse btw). If it proves too much then I will do an arvo which is just  6 hrs and see how that goes. If I cant work then so be it. At least I am alive to tell the tale and I will forever be grateful for that from now on. I feel so fortunate to be here now, I will never take this world for granted again!!! Love to you all XXOO

Thanks everyone for the comments, I appreciate your input and support tremendously. I can see that I will just have to wait and see/ If I need chemo then I guess I will have to take it one day at a time one treatment at a time and see how I go. I am nearly 3 wks since my surgery and feeling quite good. I am going to do a night shift tomorrow night and see how I go. ( I am a nurse btw). If it proves too much then I will do an arvo which is just  6 hrs and see how that goes. If I cant work then so be it. At least I am alive to tell the tale and I will forever be grateful for that from now on. I feel so fortunate to be here now, I will never take this world for granted again!!! Love to you all XXOO

Hi Viv,  I did send you a private message but didn't say anything about work.  I am in quite a good situation:  have a husband earning money, have income protection at work which pay 75% of my wage and also have insurance on our mortgage.  But we have an investment home which needs paying off and also all the additional costs of treatment.  I chose to not work with my first diagnosis and needed 9months off.  I did not have chemo last time only surgery and radiation.  This time I have had radiation and just completed chemo.  I definately could not work through treatment as I have to travel away for radiation and the chemo leaves me exhausted.  I work in a large clinic and deal directly with the public and the last two years I have had pneumonia from September to November.  I figure I will not be returning to work before this time of year is over.  So it will be about 12 months before I return to work this time.  Being 55 soon I figure I have done the "hard yards" and need some "time out" to regain my strength.  I do know of others who have worked through their treatment and I take my hat off to them but as Tonya says there are considerations ie your own side effects and others germs.  Our immune systems are greatly impaired during treatment and the last thing you need is to catch something to add to your woes.  XLeonie

Hi Viv;

I suppose whether you work or not depends on a few factors.What sort of work you do ie. whether it's physically demanding or emotionally draining and also how flexible management is.If you have radiation then it's every day(1hr?)5days a week for 5 or6 weeks.You get quite tired about half way through.You can usually organise your appointment to fit in with work-have it after work if you can.That way you come straight home and rest.With chemo it will depend on what combination your dr.recommends-TC will go for 12wks and FEC will go for 18wks.There are also other combos.It's really hard to predict how you will react Viv.If your white cells drop too low then you are a sitting duck for infection and may have to go to hospital/isolation ward for 4-6 days hooked up to an antibiotic drip.It happened to me and it's not uncommon.Catching the flu from a work colleague can be diabolical.Sorry to be a wet blanket but you need to factor in all the variables.I think radiation is less taxing on you and easier to keep working for the first few weeks perhaps.Chemo is  less predictable.Even each cycle can be different. If it is important to you to work then at least have an arrangement in place that you can bail if need be.

                                              Tonya xx

hi! Everyone responds to chemo differently, so my guess is you will have to wait and see. Personally, I've been working most of the time I've been having chemo -- I have most of the first week off after treatment, then I'm fine til next time. I have my treatments on Friday, so I can use the weekend to recover, then by Wednesday or Thursday the following week I am practically back to normal. I suspect I am coping well partly because I am (still) quite fit, still exercising, don't have any other health issues etc.

My plan with chemo has been not to rule things out by assuming that I won't be well enough. Instead, I plan to do things as normal, then if it turns out that I can't manage it, I back out. No-one has found this annoying, rude, etc. since I told them that that's how I would be operating.

I have found my well-being is enhanced by continuing to work (and seeing my friends there). But my workplace and colleagues are really supportive and kind, which makes it an easier place to be. I have found that ppl love feeling helpful, and when I told one colleague that I had felt too tired after work to cook (just once!) a whole handful of ppl started bringing in dinners for me to take home and heat up.

So all in all I would encourage you to work IF YOU CAN -- but if it turns out to be too hard, don't bash yourself up over it, take whatever time you need. You will get by somehow, money-wise.

Hope your treatment isn't too rough, keep us up to date!
Go well,
Heather

hi! Everyone responds to chemo differently, so my guess is you will have to wait and see. Personally, I've been working most of the time I've been having chemo -- I have most of the first week off after treatment, then I'm fine til next time. I have my treatments on Friday, so I can use the weekend to recover, then by Wednesday or Thursday the following week I am practically back to normal. I suspect I am coping well partly because I am (still) quite fit, still exercising, don't have any other health issues etc.

My plan with chemo has been not to rule things out by assuming that I won't be well enough. Instead, I plan to do things as normal, then if it turns out that I can't manage it, I back out. No-one has found this annoying, rude, etc. since I told them that that's how I would be operating.

I have found my well-being is enhanced by continuing to work (and seeing my friends there). But my workplace and colleagues are really supportive and kind, which makes it an easier place to be. I have found that ppl love feeling helpful, and when I told one colleague that I had felt too tired after work to cook (just once!) a whole handful of ppl started bringing in dinners for me to take home and heat up.

So all in all I would encourage you to work IF YOU CAN -- but if it turns out to be too hard, don't bash yourself up over it, take whatever time you need. You will get by somehow, money-wise.

Hope your treatment isn't too rough, keep us up to date!
Go well,
Heather