Working through chemo

This obviously is such an individual thing, but for me, runninng my own business meant taking time off was not really an option. And fortunately for me, I love what I do, and have enjoyed just getting back into everything (not just work), as soon as I could.

I was on the phone within an hour and a half of coming out of my maatectomy surgery talking to my team; back in the office five days after the operation for half days, and back to it 100 per cent (with others standing in to do the physical stuff I wasnt't allowed to) within a fortnight.

I have worked right through chemo, not taking any time off. I have it done on Fridays so I have the weekend to laze around and take it a bit easier. I've blogged elsewhere on my experience of chemo round 1, and happy to report round 2 has been similar (all crossed for three and four), so apart from a totall of two days where I have felt off in the past five weeks, it's been business as usual more or less.

A friend who went through a double mastectomy for BC 18 months ago did have the option of taking time off work and did for 6 months, and in retrospect regrets it. She says she went completely to pieces (which she says was out of kilter with the diagnosis and treatment she had to have for DCIS, no node involvement, no radiation, no chemo, preventative mastectomy on one side) and thinks it was because she spent too much time on her own dwelling and thinking instead of just getting on with life.

The best thing to do is listen to your own body; listen to your own heart.

If I had had the option of being able to take a month out to do nothing much, I would have seized it with both hands, as I do all holiday opportunitities, but I didn't and fortunately the surgery and chemo gods have been kind to me so far, and it's meant I want to, and can keep woking.

Take care and wishing you all the best for what you decide is right for you.

x