🤔❓"Can I/should I work during breast cancer treatment?"
This is a question that comes up often. Some people may find that continuing to work during your treatment helps to bring a sense of "normality" to your life. It can also help to keep you occupied during your treatment. However, you may not feel able to work everyday, especially if you are experiencing side effects such as fatigue or nausea. Here are some tips for managing work while through your experience with breast cancer: ✨ Talk to your employer as soon as possible about your diagnosis. They may be able to work out a job share or reduced hours arrangement for you. ✨ Find out your entitlements regarding paid and unpaid leave from your manager or human resources manager. ✨If you are self-employed you may be able to find someone to step into your role for a while. ✨ If your work includes manual tasks, talk to your doctor about whether these aspects of your job need to be modified. ✨ If you have income protection or trauma insurance you may be eligible to make a claim while going through your treatment. Some superannuation funds include insurance – you can call your company to ask about this. ✨ Early access to superannuation may be another option for you. Generally, you cannot access your superannuation until you have reached the minimum retirement age. However, in some circumstances you can apply to access your superannuation early. These include severe financial hardship or compassionate grounds. Before you apply for early access to your superannuation, it is important to understand the short and long-term financial impacts of taking money out of your superannuation early. Contact a financial adviser who will be able to offer assistance and advice that is most appropriate for you. "I returned to work one day after finishing radiotherapy. Now, looking back, I wish I had taken some time off to rest and relax." - Melissa, BCNA Member 👉 Click here for more information on finances and practical support during breast cancer
Post-treatment fatigue - feeling discouraged and frustrated
Hi there lovely people. I finished chemo in Sept '25 and radiation in Oct '25 (so about 7 months ago), and I'm on tamoxifen. I am still really struggling with fatigue and having to pace and limit myself. It's really frustrating. I'm trying to do all the right things: eating well, exercising, doing yoga, seeing friends. I'm on a gradual return to work program, currently doing 3 days a week at 6 hours a day. I started my return to work in March. I was thinking I might be ready to increase my hours in the next couple of weeks.....but then last week I was completely wiped out (as in, had to come home and go straight to bed on Friday), and then I was also wiped out by my weekend exercising and socialising (by no means an extreme level of activity). I'm feeling really sad and discouraged that I'm still struggling so much. I'm being kind to myself but I just want to get on with life and I feel like I'm being let down again by my body. How long will this last? Apparently some people's fatigue can last years! Does anyone have some words of wisdom or encouragement for me?
Access
I am not sure why but many of the posts I access ( I have ticked the 'most recent' box) have a mix of posts ranging from a day or two, to months, to 2 or more years. They are not in any chronological order. I found one today that has several posts from 2 years ago, then finally a three day old question which may be directed to me. Confusing. Logging on has its mysteries too. Today I received six log on 'one time' passwords, that 's happened a few times too. Is it just me?
Financial difficulties
Hi everyone I was diagnosed in August with ILC and have only been able to work a handful of days since my diagnosis. Since I started chemo I've been hospitalised with a blood clot (DVT) in my leg, pneumocystis (PJP) and most recently Clostridium Difficle (C. Diff). I'v had severe fatigue from the chemo and have been an emotional wreck from this entire experience. I've been extremely lucky though that my employer has been so supportive and has placed no pressure on me returning to work and is open to me coming in on any day for however long I can just to keep in touch. They have also generously offered me one months pay ex gratia. My issue is that I have now exhausted all of my sick leave and have only a couple of weeks left of my annual leave but am not in a position mentally or health wise to return to work yet. Foolishly, when I was younger I never opted for income protection on my superannuation so I don't have this to fall back on either. I contacted my Super fund to ask how I could access some funds from my super to allow me a couple of more months before I had to return to work. They advised me that this was dealt with by the ATO with a request for compassionate release of super funds. I went through this process on line and even called the ATO but unfortunately I don't fit into any of their categories to be able to claim compassionate funds. You have to be unable to pay your medical bills (mine are all up to date), have a terminal illness (Stage 3 BC isn't classed as terminal) or be in mortgage foreclosure (which I'm not, but may end up there soon if I don't return to work). The ATO directed me back to my Super fund to ask for financial hardship payment. My Super fund advised that to claim financial hardship, I had to be receiving Centrelink payments for a minimum of 26 weeks. This whole process is so frustrating but is also adding to my stress levels and anxiety. I've worked hard for so many years to make sure I was in a good place with my financial situation but this has just been eroded over the last few months due to BC. I feel like the ATO and Super fund want me to be in complete financial distress before they'll assist but I'm trying to be proactive and avoid getting into that situation. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions? Does anyone know of any other avenues that can be taken to access superannuation?The Whole Person - the 'other' effects of breast cancer
When people hear "breast cancer", they often think of treatment plans and hospital visits. But the impact also shows up in the quieter, more personal corners of life that don’t get talked about as much. It’s the emotional exhaustion of trying to hold everything together. It’s the financial responsibilities of time off work, extra appointments, and unexpected bills. It’s the shift in identity, with pressure to keep up with your job, your family, and your own expectations. It’s the silence around intimacy, menopause, and how your body starts to change unexpectedly. If this resonates with you, you’re not the only one who feels this way—and our Online Network is here to help. Here are some more groups you may not yet have discovered, where you can connect to discuss the 'other' effects of cancer: 💬 Young Women – A place for younger women to talk about fertility, dating, parenting, identity, and everything in between. 💬 Let’s Talk About Vaginas – A real, respectful, and empowering place to talk about sexual health, intimacy, and body changes. In the meantime, please remember that our Helpline team (1800 500 258) are here for you whenever you need support and information.The Whole Person - the 'other' effects of breast cancer
When people hear "breast cancer", they often think of treatment plans and hospital visits. But the impact also shows up in the quieter, more personal corners of life that don’t get talked about as much. It’s the emotional exhaustion of trying to hold everything together. It’s the financial responsibilities of time off work, extra appointments, and unexpected bills. It’s the shift in identity, with pressure to keep up with your job, your family, and your own expectations. It’s the silence around intimacy, menopause, and how your body starts to change unexpectedly. If this resonates with you, you’re not the only one who feels this way—and our Online Network is here to help. Here are some groups you may not yet have discovered, where you can connect to discuss the 'other' effects of cancer: 💬 Work and Breast Cancer – For anyone juggling treatment, recovery, and career. Share tips, vent frustrations, and find support. 💬 Young Women – A place for younger women to talk about fertility, dating, parenting, identity, and everything in between. 💬 Let’s Talk About Vaginas – A real, respectful, and empowering place to talk about sexual health, intimacy, and body changes. In the meantime, please remember that our Helpline team (1800 500 258) are here for you whenever you need support and information.
Work/grief/sadness
Hi all, apologies if this has already been discussed but I couldn’t find anything elsewhere. I’m 46, had a right mastectomy (Diep flap) and left reduction in early December for stage 2 invasive lobular carcinoma. My recovery went really well, no pain whatsoever. I still have another procedure to alter the flap and then have nipple tattooing but have to wait until later in the year. Started on Tamoxifen in Jan. I went back to work at the start of March and since then have felt the wheels come off a bit. I went back on reduced hours but in a different role to what I usually do (but just as busy!) 3 weeks in I was feeling overwhelmed and crying at the drop of a hat. This role was only to cover someone else and when I asked for more time on reduced hours/duties I was given yet another new role which is totally unfamiliar to me. Consequently I ended up leaving work early this morning as I was in tears. I think because my recovery went so well I hadn’t properly processed everything that had happened before (diagnosis to surgery was pretty quick). And work seems to have triggered a huge reaction that I didn’t expect. It feels like the reality of all this has hit all at once and I’m on a huge emotional rollercoaster. I am seeing a counsellor and she’s been amazing. Plus I’ve started acupuncture. I’m so used to be busy and I used to love it but at the moment, I just don’t have the capacity for it. Has anyone else had a similar experience?Sad and lonely
Hi everyone. I’m new here, recently diagnosed with high grade DCIS. I had a wide excision to remove the DCIS and margins. Results showed small amounts of invasive cancer in the margins, so a week ago I had another surgery to remove that invasive tissue and a few lymph nodes. I’ve been coping with everything pretty well and have a loving supportive family. I also have a huge network of friends. However, today, I’m sad. Like tears won’t stop. I haven’t had anyone visit me this week - I get it, people have lives and are busy, but I feel forgotten and as if people think it’s all over now… I don’t get results from second surgery until 2 June so the waiting is torture. I don’t understand why I am being so unreasonable about the lack of visitors!! Does anyone else feel this way? I also have a colleague going through BC treatment. She had a double mastectomy and is amazing- turns up to work straight after her surgery and seems to be coping so well. I feel like I can’t be honest about my feelings at work as my diagnosis is not that bad. Again, this makes me feel so selfish!
Very confused
It is interesting reading everyone's journey's and trying to understand what's ahead. I tried going prepared to appointments with questions I found online but I'm always feeling pushed out the door and there is also an accent barrier so I'm still not clear. I have a bit better understanding in that it is the same cancer type er +, pr-and hre2- as last time, when I had lumpectomy, radiation and oestrogen blockers. 2 years later it has recurred in the lymph nodes. I had 32 removed, 2 with cancer and 15 with cluster cells ( don't really comprehend that). The oncologist said that the odds for chemo stopping it coming back was low but as I haven't had chemo that is the only option to halt it. I couldn't understand the sort of chemo as I was reading all the info on types but now I'm more confused. I thought he said DC and the information sheet says TC but then the drug names as docataxel and cyclophosphamide. I'm having 4 cycles 3 weeks apart. Everyone mentions hair loss, eyebrows etc but is it useful in making leg hair go away? I'm in an admin role so don't know what to tell work as to what I can/can't do. Sorry, lots of questions. I don't personally know of anyone with cancer to quiz.
Does life go back to normal?
Hi! thanks to BCN for putting me onto this discussion page. I was diagnosed with ER, PR & HER2+ breast cancer June 2024 at the age of 53yrs. Had surgery to remove two (R) breast aggressive tumours, three months of chemo and 4 weeks of radiation. I’m now on Anastrozole. I feel I got off lightly and just thought I’d get back to my normal life. That wasn’t so easy. I’m gradually returning to full-time work, exercise and trying to return to my once active single social life. I’m having acupuncture to help with immunity and general wellbeing. I had beautiful long blonde hair. Spent lots of money on my hair and nails. My question is… what do all you amazing women do to get back into fitness, to avoid the tiredness, and to help with your hair and nails? Are there any good vitamin supplements? Am I able to use collagen? Thank you for your advice xx
