Are there any health care professionals who worked with breast cancer patients prior to their own diagnosis, who continued working with them post treatment? How did you cope? After 20 years of working with breast cancer patients I’m struggling with the thought of going back to it when my treatment is done. But not doing so upsets me more than the thought of losing my breasts.

Hi @bsally816, I am a nurse and I work in a palliative care unit. I worked here for a bit over a year before I was diagnosed and see it as a privilege to help support people at this stage of life. My workmates were incredibly supportive of me whilst undergoing treatment. My work has been very confronting at times but my patients situation is not my situation, and while I can help them I will because we never know what the future may bring and I hope if I ever need help, someone will be there to care for me. I feel very lucky to have been able to return to work and continue to help people.

I guess it's too soon to know how you will feel. The hardest thing is the triggering of your own emotional response. I do counselling and often end up with cancer patients, sometimes it's not an issue and other times it really impacts me. The other challenging part is understanding and supporting the individual which will be quite different from your own experience.I suppose all you can do is get through treatment then see how it goes. Supporting people with recurrence and metstatic cancer may trigger emotional responses and fears in you which can come out of the blue. You will need to be mindful of this.

Hi @bsally816 - welcome to the forum!! Ask away any questions - there will always be someone to throw up an answer and/or suggestions!What area of healthcare do you work in? After having your own BC treatment - I would imagine it would be quite difficult to separate yourself from your patients' experiences - but I am sure that many work thru the issues (like @JoeyLiz) to be effective and very empathetic in treating others at this most important time of their lives.You might like to read Liz O'Riodan's Breast Cancer story - she is/was a UK BC surgeon - and has only recently decided not to continue operating for a variety of reasons. http://liz.oriordan.co.uk/take care, be kind to yourself & all the best for your own treatment xxxx

I met a nurse the day my port was to go in; it was her first week back after finishing treatment. She’d worked in the oncology unit for years and years and said she was happy to be back there because they supported her so well when she was off. I suppose if your work is supportive it might be nice? I’m a nurse but not within adult oncology.. I plan on going back to try it out but I almost feel as if I don’t want to look after anyone else anymore, I want to look after myself. Time will tell!

I am so sorry to hear your story, @bsally816 - how incredibly hard all this has been, especially with your Dad's passing on the day of your surgery and the biopsy bleed that resulted in hospitilisation.You are now fully qualified as a BS survivor and will put your own slant on how you move forward with your work and identification/interaction with your clients. The 'anniversary' dates of all the treatment affects everyone of us in one way or another - with the Mammogram and Ultrasound being 'right up there' - with the chance of a recurrence. Do what feels right for you - even if it is in an advisory/educational role with up & coming radiologists. You will know what path to take, as you return to the work force. xxTake care - recovery & returning to active work is not an easy road xx

Health care professionals working with breast cancer patients post diagnosis

13 Replies

arpie
Member
6 years ago
Hi @bsally816 - welcome to the forum!! Ask away any questions - there will always be someone to throw up an answer and/or suggestions!

What area of healthcare do you work in?

After having your own BC treatment - I would imagine it would be quite difficult to separate yourself from your patients' experiences - but I am sure that many work thru the issues (like @JoeyLiz)
to be effective and very empathetic in treating others at this most important time of their lives.

You might like to read Liz O'Riodan's Breast Cancer story - she is/was a UK BC surgeon - and has only recently decided not to continue operating for a variety of reasons.
http://liz.oriordan.co.uk/

take care, be kind to yourself & all the best for your own treatment xxxx
kmakm
Member
6 years ago
@kezmusc
JoeyLiz
Member
6 years ago
Hi there! I am a radiation therapist so I see breast cancer patients daily. I worked throughout my whole treatment, finished radiation last July at my own department. I have found that my care of patients has improved as I can now relate more and truly empathise with them on a more personal level.

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Health care professionals working with breast cancer patients post diagnosis

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