So its 3 weeks since my final chemo. Im feeling better than i expected to feel at this point. A few cosmetic things, not much hair, rashes, mild foot pain, fatigue at 9.30 pm. 8ve been walking everyday, going to my exercise medicine sessions. My appetite is back. Im considering going back to work 20 hours a week.A few people, mainly friends who havent been through the thick of this, dont understand why i would want to and shouldnt i just stay on income protection as long as i can? Im tired of being sick, i want to be well and alive but im feeling uncertain whether things will get worse during radiotherapy or if im missing something? I do still have hormone blockers to start also. My friends concern is undermining my confidence also. I know this is a nice problem to have. Any words of advice?

Hi @MicheleR, good for you. I am doing well too. I had 3 x AC and 9 x Taxol and then radium. I finished at the end of October and I am on tamoxifen now. I am about 10yrs older than you and actually retired about 6 months before BC. However I walk daily and go to pilates and water aerobics weekly. I feel good but get a bit of fatigue now and then. I can understand wanting to be well and moving on from the whole BC story. Sounds like you are ready for work. If you can do 20hrs great and if it gets a bit hard sometimes I hope your employer is understanding. I had 4 wks of radium and found by week 2 i got a bit tired but i never stopped my exercise. Go for it I say. You know yourself and what you need. Just check your employer supports you if you need other breaks but a distraction from it all is great. Good luck with radium.

As someone who never stopped working during treatment, I think I know how you feel. I was lucky - no nausea, no fatigue. But I didn’t want to let go my life. I didn’t have radiation but as most seem to find it easier than chemo, it may not be a major difficulty. Being at work got my head out of being preoccupied with bc. I did make changes later on (changed my job) but by then I was clear that was about getting more of what I wanted out of life and not about accommodating cancer (or anyone else’s ideas of what cancer patients should be doing!). Follow your instincts. Talk with your boss. Best wishes.

@MicheleR I understand the desire to get back to normal. I was the same and after having chemo and rads, I went back about 3 weeks after (30 hours pw). I only realised that I'd made a huge mistake a few weeks later. I had thought I'd be okay as I was doing the school run every day, going to exercise sessions and I was getting bored. However, once back at work, I really struggled with fatigue and cognitive issues. It wasn't unusual for me to be so exhausted by the end of the working day that I was feeling sick. So, while you may be fine, I'd suggest giving yourself a bit of extra time if you can. And if you still have radiation to go, that is another thing that can cause extreme fatigue.

Hi @Afraser,Yes i think you do know. I view it as had cancer and being treated so it doesnt return. The treatment hasnt been particularly pleasant and at times i felt less well than when i started. Ive been open about it.But now that im feeling better i want a balanced life and i see work as part of it. I have to jump through a few hoops to go back to work including notes and forms filled out by my gp that im capable for my current employer. It feels a bit over the top but ok can do it. I think some colleagues are afraid ill look ill and how ill be. My boss i think wants me to go on a less stressful project. I just want to get back to work. Im happy to do my hours and leave whilst like i work out what i want to do longer term. Working it out might involve going back to see what i think too.Thanks for your thoughts.Michele

@Michelle_R I'm in the 'wait a while' camp. Radiotherapy is really time consuming and a lot more tiring towards the end than I expected. I'd thought after all the slicing and dicing and poisoning, a bit of frying should be a doddle. It wasn't too bad and I drove myself to treatment (180km round trip) but I had a couple of weeks of burn management and that would have been terribly uncomfortable in a work setting.I fully understand wanting to get back to normal, but I've also had experience of being royally pissed off at myself because I struggled more in the workplace than I'd expected. I get very disappointed in myself if my performance is sub par, and I hated making excuses for stupid mistakes. A bit more time would have given me a better chance of doing a decent job.I did work right through my first treatment, but I was ten years younger and there is a lot to be said for keeping going rather then stopping and then trying to start again. Mxx

Feeling better than expected what now

59 Replies

Jen2019
Member
5 years ago
@FLClover,

You're right Mon, we have to be strong, loving and supportive with each other. ❤️ Like how you are very supportive of me. 😍
MicheleR
Member
5 years ago
@Sister,

Not at all. I posted because i wanted to challenge or support my own thinking and it has given me things to think about.

I may go back and forth for a bit and explore my options.

:smile:
Sister
Member
5 years ago
I am sorry if I've been adding to any pressure... You need to do what feels right for you.
MicheleR
Member
5 years ago
Hi @Zoffiel, @Afraser

I think its fine for a balanced view. I feel a bit uncertain i suppose and i can look at it both ways. Its probably normal to feel a bit of anxiety around it.

I talked to my physio at the cancer service i go to about it this morning as she was asking how things were going. It seems i have very similar personality and drivers to her and i ended up having a little cry because she understood exactly. I can be a driven person but i recognise the triggers and need to stay clear of them at least in the short term. She said wisely i think, that if i want you work, work and if i dont , dont. She also suggested to see psychologist to get some strategies to say no.

As it happens i got an email from my boss this morning asking about a role they are discussing for me. I decided to be upfront about some of my future commitments to see if they can work around them. I can work from home most of the time and if i can get clearance to wear a mask i can go to some meetings on site. Im sure if this falls through they would find something else.

Im possibly nervous about being judged one way or another if i cant pull it off in the way i plan. I dont want full rush rush but i want to live a semi normal existence. Im 48 and have many years before retirement assuming i keep this disease at bay. I cant live thinking the worst.

Michele
Afraser
Member
5 years ago
Agree with @Zoffiel - talk to your boss about some flexibility, if things turn out a bit differently to expectations, before you start so everyone knows the score.
Zoffiel
Member
5 years ago
I was just thinking a few of us have been putting a bit of pressure on you to think more than twice about going back to work.

That's probably not very fair, given the 'everybody's different' thing that gets drummed into us through this whole cotton process. You should do what you want to, but please be kind to yourself because there are a great many shitheads out there who won't be all that considerate. Mxx
MicheleR
Member
5 years ago
Hi @Jen2019,

Thanks for those comments. Im with you on the no bullshit.

I got a lecture from some friends yesterday which whilst well intentioned was a bit full on. I think people bring their own baggage or fears about cancer to the conversation.

I think it wouldnt hurt to take a little more time. My kids started back at school and im doing school run. Yesterday i didnt stop appts till 4 pm and i think ive got full on appts till wednesday next week. I was craving a good sit down and time alone. I also want to make sure i get my exercise in.

It will come out in the wash.

Michele
FLClover
Member
5 years ago
@Jen2019 💪🏻💪🏻👏🏻👏🏻♥️♥️
Jen2019
Member
5 years ago
MicheleR
I am very happy that you are feeling better and can look forward at going back to work. You know your body better than anyone and give yourself enough rest in between work. All the ladies that responded to your post gave wonderful advice and genuine support which gives a person the boost to continue living despite BC. Like you, I had a discussion with my GP about my plan to go back to work. We put together a return to work plan and it is subject for review every month between my GP and I to ensure that I am coping. I started work early this month and 2 days a week to give me a feel on what I can cope with stress wise. OHH boy, I can't believe that by the end of the working day, my hands are tired, my eyes dry, my shoulders sore and I feel so drained. Despite ensuring that I get breaks when I feel tired at work. I realised that the more I push to get back to the way I was, the more I am undoing the good progress I made. So I made a decision to tell my GP on my next appointment with her that I am staying at 2 days work a week until I am comfortable to add extra day. Ensure your return to work plan is full proof and if you can make it specific so your manager will not second guess.

I have links about breast cancer and work that I found in BCNA that I have used when I was talking to my manager.

https://www.bcna.org.au/work-and-breast-cancer/

https://www.bcna.org.au/media/6810/bcna-fact-sheet-tips-for-managers.pdf

Please don't force it, if your body is saying no and take it slow. At the end of the day, YOU are the most important in these circumstances. Ohhh, also I told people at work that I no longer take Bullshit 😂 it worked! 😀but I don't know for long.
Jen2019
Member
5 years ago

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Feeling better than expected what now

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