coping with work
coping with work i’ve been back at work full-time for about 4 weeks following a graduated return starting in january after chemo, mastectomy, rads and now tamoxifen.
I’m really struggling to do the work that I used to do, we have timed targets for are work and I’m nowhere near reaching them. My memory is pretty bad and my thought processes and concentration much slower than they used to be. I was very experienced in my job, having worked for the company for many years and my employers want me to take up a new role with more responsibilty, and therefore pressure/stress. I don’t think I’m anywhere near ready to do this - I’ve taken all my leaflets in which explain about the effect of chemo and tamoxifen on memory and concentration so they know what I’m dealing with. I’m due to have some discussions with occupational health soon.
At the moment I get quite a bit of support from my colleagues and I feel somewhat guilty that I don’t do as much work as they do and I don’t want to take advantage or use the bc as an excuse but I feel taking on a new, more stressful role would not be good for me. I know from the person who used to do the role that it is quite pressured and they asked to be moved for that reason.
I’m not sure how long I can feasibly avoid it, although I have voiced my concerns and they have agreed to review it, I get the impression that it’s a delay rather than a change of plan.
Has anyone had any similar experiences. any advice would be gratefully received.
Sorry for long, rambling post.
serenity I have also recently returned to work and am still not up to full time. The only advice i can offer is do not allow yourself to be pressured into more responsibility than you can handle at this time. Use the Disability Discrimination Law if you have to to persuade your employers that its not a good idea to try to force you into anything.
Also use your occupational health dept to your advantage - that is what they are supposed to be there for.
Please remember that you are the priority here and not the job or the company, and take care of yourself first.
Will be thinking of you,
mary xx
Hi,
You are the only one that is important here, I haven’t given up work at all through my treatment, the odd day off after each chemo, but I only work part time anyway and I don’t have a high powered job. I don’t think people reallize just how much this b,c takes it out of you.
I see you are due for your recon, as I have just answered your other post, You have to think of getting all of this out of the way first.
Be kind to yourself, and don’t feel guilty about your colleagues doing more than you, I know sometimes it’s hard as I too don’t want people to think I am playing on my b.c either, but lets face it, they are not going through this are they.
It will get better with time. It’s still early days for you.
Love Carole,xx
Hi Serenity05 Its good to hear you are back at work and doing well !
My concentration is bad since Chemo and radio but on top of that I feel people expect that once you have finished treatment that all’s ok, as in the day after you finish!!
I think this is the time that you sit back and relise just what was happening at the time you go through a mental block, you think that you just have to get through this, once it’s over you begin to understand and come to terms with everything.
Take your time I am, we need to. Be selfish for once and think what do I what to do now?
I find what tasks was so easy before now seam a major upheavel.
Be kind to yourself !!
Love vodkasue
Thank you for your kind replies. I continued to work part time though my chemo as I had that before my other treatment, so maybe they think as I coped with work during that time I must be ok now it’s all over??
I realise that I’m the priority but in practical terms I still need to earn a living, though bc has been my wake up call as in “am I really doing what I want to with my life?”. Actually, I was planning to relocate and change jobs last year prior to dx. I definitely need to move on from this job but with a possible recon op coming up later in the year, it’s probably not a good time until after that, with regard to paid sick leave etc.
I’m not sure how long I can continue with lesser duties before they decide to downgrade me as I’m not doing tasks commensurate with my grade. But I haven’t even been back at work for three months yet, and only one month at full time, which with a week off holiday and a couple of odd days has resulted in my only having worked ONE full 35 hour week, which was incredibly busy, and a huge struggle for me.
On top of that there are lots of reorganisation of departments coming up in the next month anyway - I’ll just have to take advice from my bc nurse and occ health and take it from there.
best wishes to you all
serenity
(Amanda)