Hi
I read a lot on these postings about ladies going back to work during their chemo yet my nurses are adamant I should stay away, at least until I have finished the epirubicin part of the chemo.
I work in the exams office of a college with 12 other colleagues in quite a confined area, and unfortunately it is quite a sickly office!
Any office workers out there back at work either with or without the blessing of the medical staff, and if so how are you finding it?
Look forward to hearing from you
Best Wishes
Val
xx
My oncologist wanted to sign me off for the duration of chemo, we came to the following agreement:
Chemo week I take off
second week I work from home
Third week I go to the office if needed.
As I haven’t started yet, I do not know whether it will work. I like to be kept busy, so working from home will be ideal.
Can you come to some arrangement with your college whereas you could take some work home?
Sophie
I worked all through chemo, taking off just the days when I felt bad - usually three or so each cycle. No doctors or nurses ever took any notice about whether I was working or not. It was entirely my decision.
I work in an office with ten other people, and never caught any infections during chemo. I had 4 x FEC & 4 x Tax. The E of the FEC is epirubicin.
I was rather a hermit outside of work during the days when my blood counts would have been low.
My situation is different, as I work in a hospital, but I’ll be off for the duration of my treatment I suspect
Maybe negotiating on your better days when your blood count is good would be a way forward
Rx
Hi Val
I have been going back to work the next day after chemo. Luckily i have a desk job and it is open spaced. I suppose it depends on the enviroment you work in.
When I told my doctor i was still going to work he was very shocked.
Chrissie x
Hi Val
I’m an outdoor activities instructor, have been working as normally as poss through 3 fec and now 3 tax. My onc was very insistent that I continue to work as normal. I do some days in the office, but one of the guys has glandular fever at the mo, so staying well clear of him!!!
My employers have been amazing thru all this, I basically work when I feel like it, it will be fantastic to get back to normality again. listen to you body, some days I can’t get out of my pit.
Take care
Ang
I worked throughout chemo - taking off four-five days at the start of each three-week cycle. However, I did not go gallivanting off to conferences or trade fairs, and was careful about going into crowded places.
Thanks for the comments, it sounds like you all appear to have very good employers.
It has made me wonder if terms of pay has anything to do with it, ie if you are on full pay from your employer then working when you feel like it (as in Ang’s case) won’t make too much difference to the company. I am only on half pay and wonder what the implications would be of me working an erratic pattern. Bit of a bummer when you have worked full time for 35 years with a practically non-existent sick record to find this happens to you and you cnnot get any money from anywhere.
Have come to the conclusion I might join the union as they should be able to give me the best advise, especailly on a phased return to work (for which I have to use my holiday entitlement)!!
Good luck everyone
Val
x
Hi , I have managed to work all through my chemo .
I am a depute head in large primary school and my oncologist was very happy for me to work.
The nurses are great at arranging treatment times to suit me.
At the moment I am Acting Head as my boss left . Interview on Tuesday , fingers crossed !
Jill
Hi Val
I work in a open plan office with approx 20 people in this area and I supervise a team of 5. ONC have agreed for me to go back to work as long as I listen to my body and rest when I need to I have had a meeting with my line manager with who I discussed everything with . I can do certain things from home wo we have agreed that I can do this if I need to . They have agreed to take the lead from me so I go back to work just before my 3rd treatment I am on Epi and I have to do a phase return so the first week with be this I work full time. I work for the local authority apparently whilst haveng treatment I do no have to use any annual leave so good news for me but for my 1st 2 days I will be using annual leave as I have stacks of holiday to be used and they have agreed to carried my annual leave over into the next period. We have been in constant touch since my sickness began. One comment I got from my manager was it was not a happy place and the moment has we have been given a new work load my reply was they can be in my shoes and then they would have something to moan about!
1st week working pattern
31st March & 1st April 1/2 days ( time up to me)
Wednesday 2nd AL (sons birthday)
Thursday Chemo
Friday Off due to chemo
Monday what ever but 1/2 day or off depending on how I feel
Then rest of the days, time and the hours will be up to me. But the next period of chemo I wil be working up to the day of chemo and off the rest of the week and then back to work.
Hope this helps
Good luck
Sharon
I have posted this on behalf of new user Jill
Kind regards
Katie
Hi , I have managed to work all through my chemo .
I am a depute head in large primary school and my oncologist was very happy for me to work.
The nurses are great at arranging treatment times to suit me.
At the moment I am Acting Head as my boss left . Interview on Tuesday , fingers crossed !
Jill
Hi all
I work in a factory with alot of bodies, i worked 12 hour shifts thru 2 ec (epirubicin) and now i am doin taxotere 3rd one next week,still workin but need days 5+6 off work. You need to listen to your body, with your mental state in mind, i couldnt have coped with not working and having to go thru chemo too !
Thanks again everyone for the updated comments, I think you are all doing brilliant.
Discussed the situation again with my hubby last night and he thinks that maybe I am doing so well (only one bad day out of two cycles epi) because I haven’t got the stress of going to work, so it really is a hard call.
Think I’ll get Easter over (3rd epi week after) then ask for a meeting with all concerned at work.
Jill - Good luck with the interview.
Val
x
I’d like to add that i didn’t work all the way through my chemo (was paid full for the 1st 6 months off) i felt extremely guilty about not going in on the days that i thought i could have eaasily managed work. after treatment had finished i now believe that i did etremely well through chemo due to me not having to go to work and not haveing any commitments other than coping with the treatment. when I returned to work i didn’t know what hit me!!! i’ve been back 2 1/2 months now and its only now I’m really getting back into it. you could always try working and then go on the sick if it doesn’t work out - keep your options open
Thanks Kelyn, you have confirmed what I thought, my well being probably comes down to not working so not going to feel so guilty about it. After all,probably deserve time out after 35 years without a break, just not the reason I would have chosen for time off!!
Val
Hi,
I worked through my Chemo. I usually had one day off with a couple of days finishing mid afternoon.
One of my sessions I didn’t need any time off at all.
I have an office job and everyone at work was fantastic.
I was much happier to be at work as it stopped me becoming a victim.
I was given a £2,000 bonus for working throughout my illness.
I hope you can manage to do it because you feel more in control somehow.
Love Jugsy
Hi ,
I am working approx 4-5 hrs a day thru 6 x fec chemo- as agreed with work with out any effect on full pay, just had no 4, and the fatigue is kicking in, otherwise I m managing, my tx day is a wednesday, so I work in the morning that day have tx, then im off thurs-sun to rest, back to work monday until the next cycle.
I f I feel too tired or unwell I have the odd day off sick.
Im planning a phased return to full time again and possibly will have a couple of weeks off sick at the end of treatment for a rest prior to going back .
Everyone has a different pattern of energy its all about listening to your body as others have said.
Take care
Julie xx