Hi all
I have been taking Tamoxifen and having Zoladex injections for about three months (finished chemo April, operation in October). On the whole I am starting to feel more like myself and am finding ways of coping with the hot flushes. However some days I still feel energy-less and have achy/stiff limbs and feel a little down (oncologist said this is normal). Lots of people have mentioned that evening primrose oil and starflower oil help with hot flushes but do they help with the other symptoms? Do they make you gain weight?
I am currently on a phased return to work so I am only working three days. I am a teacher and the school are being very good to me. I am not even teaching all the time that I am in. Although I can feel fine, at other times even walking becomes tiring- I feel fine again after a rest. All this makes me worried about taking on more responsibility in September. Prior to diagnosis I worked until late most evenings marking books etc. With this in mind I have discussed the possibility of working less hours longer term-maybe for a year. The school are currently looking into this. I feel that at only 32, I should be able to cope better. I am worried that I am overreacting and that maybe I will feel fine by September. Has anyone else had similar experiences when going back to work? How long do the symptoms last? Thanks, sorry to ramble!
Sherbert
‘…I should be able to cope better’ ? Dangerous words my dear! Why oh why do we put ourselves under such pressure by comparing ourselves to how (we imagine) others are coping?
You have been through so much and it’s only really when you stop visiting hospital every five minutes and you get a bit more back to ‘normal’ that the enormity of it hits you. Please go easy on yourself.
I finished chemo in November and started back to work (phased) in January, but i only work part-time anyway as i do a lot of voluntary stuff as well. I’m now back to everything i was doing before and I’m afraid it’s really too much, because as well as the work and other commitments, I have to fit in all the bc stuff: hospital visits, scans, and all the time it takes working this stuff through in conversations, relationships and reading stuff about bc on the web, and on here. Also I’m trying to give my family quality time, and rest when i need to. Then there’s the side-effects of treatment (I’m on tamoxifen and herceptin, which sometimes make me feel exhausted).
I suppose i’m saying, if they can help you to work less hours for a year, I’d grab it with both hands. It will mean you get the rest you need so you are fresh and prepared when you are at work, and it won’t become an awful grind because you’re working full-time hours and have no time for yourself. However hard you try, you will end up working into the evenings again if you are working full-time, just to keep up with the marking etc. Also, there will be times when you wonder what on earth you are doing working anyway, when bc has made you question your priorities so deeply.
One of the very few things i have enjoyed about this experience is that for once, i can call the shots. Nobody would dare presume to know how I feel, and how much i feel able to take on, and everyone was willing to bend over backwards to accommodate my needs (I know this isn’t everyone’s experience). So I’d take advantage of it and give yourself a little breathing space before you commit yourself. If you get to Christmas and you’re fed up of working reduced hours, you can always change your mind.
That’s just my opinion. I expect others will have something to say soon. I wish you all the best for your successful treatment and your decision
Jacquie x
Hi sherbet and jackie I’m also on tamoxifen and have had 2 zoladex injections but Im completely exhausted at the moment so am glad to see from the above that this is the norm im a residential social worker in a childrens home but am only also back on a part time basis. Have u been having any night sweats sherbett im more warm at night than i was when i was on tamoxifen alone. take care mary kate
Hi girls. I’m in a similar position but I’m on Letrozole rather than tamoxifen. I’ve also had 2 zoladex injections. I had chemo from mid-December to early-April followed by a bi-lateral mastectomy in May.
I have been really tired but I put it down to going back to work and having to get up at 6.30 in the morning. I had been on Tamoxifen prior to a recurrence of BC and haven’t noticed the night sweats as being any worse now. I take Sage Leaf tablets to help with them.
I do find that I’m suffering from aches and pains - funnily enough when I get out of the chair rather than out of bed.
Hazel
Hi Sherbert,
I too work in a Primary School - SENCO, so I don’t have to work full time. I work three hours a day.
I’ve been on Tamoxifen for just over a year now and I found - at first - I was quite poorly and very, very tired. I did put the tiredness down to my age…54…but my BC nurse did say that going through the Menopause on Tamox would drain me…it did.
One year down the line, I feel much better though I do still get tired.
I went back to work in September 2007 - operation was June - But I didn’t have Chemo or radio. I felt going back when I did, was a little too soon.
As for weight gain, well, I have gained quite a bit, but with running up and down stairs at school my weight gain has stopped, but I’m finding it difficult to lose it.
Obviously, school work is really hard, it’s not just the 9 am to 3.30 pm to think of, sometimes I could still be there at 4.30 pm and in early the next morning, plus, all the day’s out, sports days, summer fairs…groan… so if they will give you less hours (like mine did) snatch their hand off.
Good luck
Linda x
Hi I have just gone on Tamoxifen - about 3 weeks now following ANC and chemo - have radiotherapy coming up in Aug.
I have just started going back to work and they are wonderful! My care nurse told me to take it easy and am following her advise.
I am 53 now feel more normal for a bit anyway, and I work 25 hrs a week, except that I haven’t achieved that yet having started in april - half way through 6 chemo doses! I worked less than 3 hours and cycle there & back, I potter around at home and watch a dvd…
its hard to take it easy as I could have worked a few more hours but am continuing. I have a 3 week stretch without hospital appts and want to enjoy my life with family & friends and enjoy work and dont want it to become a chore…
I agree with Jacqui - that we look after ourselves.
My work colleagues tell me that i have to tell them how I feel as I look really good!
My hair is slowly coming back all over, I have the sweats too but sleep is better mostly which is a relief.
Enjoy the moment girls…
Jan
There are no set rules to how we should cope. As Jacquie says, we are all so very different and it is not useful to compare yourself to others. Firstly, we don’t truly know how people cope - we only have what they tell us to go on. You are young, so are you comparing yourself to other 32 year old teachers or other 32 year old women who have had cancer and why do you think you are overreacting? You are not work shy - it sounds as though you were a bit of a workaholic before so you are not trying to dodge working, you simply need to listen to your body and rest because when you do rest, you feel fine. Your school sound very understanding and if they offer you reduced hours, take them. You can always increase them if you really feel ready in a few months. If you push yourself too hard now, recovery will take much longer.
be good to yourself!
Don’t push yourself too hard at this stage or you may well suffer at some point down the line. I was the great commando and went back to work full time 2 weeks after WLE - this was entirely my choice and no pressure from the company. I only have my son at home and he was out working full-time so being at home all day alone was starting to be counter-productive as I had too much time to sit and brood over things. I took an early finish when I was having rads and went back to full days the day after they finished, again this was my choice and I think for me it was the best thing. I was very tired but was able to come home and go to bed if I wanted to … my son was more than capable of feeding himself if I was in bed when he got in.
As others have said there is no competition here - everyone is different and we cannot compare ourselves with someone else.
Thanks for all the comments everyone and sound advice. I feel a little better about it all. It is always useful hearing from others in a similar situation-reminding you that you are not a drama queen or just plain awkward. I have been a bit of a workaholic in the past (as suggested) and think I will push myself too hard if do full time at this stage. Think I am going to continue working part-time at least until end of October and will see how I feel then.
I know what you mean about staying at home becoming counter productive-have struggled with this too but think if I work three/ four days will probably need to spend at least one full day working at home anyway as will have more responsibility from September.
Yes, MaryKate I have had quite a few night sweets, I now leave the fan on most nights which helps a lot. I still wake up at least once but now usually go back to sleep fairly quickly.
Would still be interested to hear from anyone who has found anything that helps with, mood swings and aches & pains, tiredness.
Thanks again for all the common sense. Take care S
Hi Sherbert
You may find it useful to have a look at the BCC fact sheet on menopausal symptoms as there is some information about how to relieve so of the things you refer to.
It can be found by following the link below:-
breastcancercare.org.uk//docs/menopausal_symptoms_jun_2006_0.pdf
I hope you find this helps.
Kind regards
Sam
BCC Facilitator
Hi Sherbert
I am also a teacher. Before BC I worked full time and NEVER finished work before 6pm, bringing work home too. After BC my school were great. I finished all treatment in June 07 (mast, ax clear, chemo, rads) now on tamoxifen but was on arimidex. I returned on a phased return building up to 2 full days, (after 11 mths off) which is my workload now.
Since being on tamox I have had a return of fatigue which is rapid and debilitating. So far it has not affected me in work too much. I work wed, thur and am a waste of space on a fri. It is 21 mths since my diagnosis, so if it helps, I have not got over it that quickly.
You are younger than me, but your body has been put through the mill. It is a sad fact that the illness (initially) doesn’t make you ill, but the dam treatment does. Chemo is a poison and it takes a great length of time to get over this and a general anaethetic, let alone energy sapping drugs and with me, a very poor sleep pattern also.
Continue to make sure your school know that you are still unfit and that you may have relapses, I had a few. Don’t be affraid to show that you are human and need support. If you can’t get support in a school, where can you?!
Irene