carry on teaching?
carry on teaching? Is there anyone out there who has carried on teaching once chemo began? This weekend has been a nightmare trying to reconcile my responsibilities to school and the kids with the possibility that even reduced hours so i can take my SATs class seem unlikely because of the germ issue? Have I got to throw in the towel? I’d love some answers please.
I’m a teaching asst, Year 6,so understand all about SATS!
Was advised not to work during chemo due to the risk of infection.
Also, you need to bear in mind the possible side effects depending on the chemo you will be having.
You may feel grotty for a few days and as you start to feel better might consider going in to work before the next cycle but you still have the issue of infection toconsider and we all know what lovely germs the little darlings carry!
Love
Jackie
x
I teach in a F.E. College and was advised from the time of diagnosis not to work through chemo.
Apart from my own health, I think it’s in the best interests of the students to have continuity, especially for classes with external exams. I would hate to stand there, only operating at 30 or so %, when they really need you with all guns blazing. I’m spending the time reading, creating new materials and preparing for new texts.
On the other hand, you may feel really well. Would you be able to work part-time with specific classes only?
Hi I’m a teaching assistant and I was advised not to work during treatment because of the risk of picking up bugs. It’s been horrible not working but I think it was a good idea not to. Even when I was on the up, I was usually tired. I’m on my las week of rads now and looking forward to going back to work after half term.
Saffire xx
I’m a teacher, Yr 5 when diagnosed. As well as the infection issue, my oncologist said that people who are able to be off work for the whole treatment are able to focus completely on coping with the treatment and the situation and in his opinion seem to do better. There is no way i could have coped with teaching. If i’d had a nice little stress free office job i’d have loved to do a few hours when not feeling too bad. No way could i have coped with the demands of a class full of children.
Kelley
I teach in a secondary school and I couldn’t possibly have carried on during treatment. I finished treatment nearly 18 months ago and went back almost a year ago and I’m still shattered. I have days when my brain just doesn’t work right. I was advised to concentrate on me and forget work and the docs still think I’d be better resting. With the germ thing you’d need to be very careful with young children as you’d probably be more likely to pick up infections.
Re: Carry on teaching? Dear teacherjy
As a teacher myself, I wouldn’t consider working through chemo. I was diagnosed in Sept. 2003, finished work a day before my mastectomy in Oct. and didn’t return to work until Sept. 2004. During that time I had chemo and rads. Although I didn’t get many of the chemo side effects, I did get incredibly tired for a few days after each treatment. Quite apart from the germs issue, in teaching you need to be on top form every day!
I think you have to be very selfish and put yourself first. It’s the school’s responsibility to see that your SATs class is taken care of, not yours alone. I had to leave a good GCSE class for the best part of a year, but they didn’t seem to suffer too much from my absence as the school made sure that our department shuffled the timetable around to make sure that there was no break in continuity of teaching for them. So, I didn’t have to worry about them and consequently my recovery was stress free. I did do some bits of school work at home - marking coursework and writing reports but that was all.
I hop everything goes well for you
GillT
I threw in the towel Thank you for all those replies. After much agonising I finally took everybody’s good advice and gave up work for the duration. I hated doing it but I’m sure it was the correct thing to do - I’m just stubborn. The relief all round amongst my family, friends and medical team has shown that they were just waiting and hoping I’d make the sensible decision. They know me too well - I had to decide for myself !
Heartfelt thanks to all of you who confirmed my resolve.
Hi Teacherjy
You can now give yourself over to day-time TV and just chill (well maybe just the old movies and not the rest of the rubbish). You need time to slow down and give your body the rest it needs so, forget the image (ie always having to be doing, and something useful at that) and go with the flow. It’s not easy to change the habits of a lifetime, I know, but as I sit here in my PJs writing this - it can be done!
Enjoy (as much as anyone on chemo can)
Blondie