Hi all, I’m creating this chat, so we can all post and support each other on just how mentally hard it is to go back to, or more like discover the ‘normal’ after your cancer treatment or often whilst still adjusting to the next stages of treatment. The early fays of just moving from chemo/radio to hormone treatments and trying to go back to work at the same time etc.
I’ve gone back to work 3 weeks ago. I had grade two er positive cancer, lumpectomy, axillary clearance, 6 months of chemo, 3 weeks of radio. Took 12 months off work. and it’s very surreal atm. Its like life continues as normal for everybody but me. My brain fog is real and it causes me to have loads of anxiety + the anxiety about the ongoing treatment, + anxiety that ultimately I am utterly unmotivated to waste my life away at work, + future anxiety, +life in general anxiety. I keep setting up meetings and forgetting to actually include people in the invite . Also I find myself flipflopping between being grateful that I’m not on all the meds yet and being scared that I’m not on all the meds yet. Mentally it’s a wild rollercoaster ride, and I’m not sure I’m fully strapped in.
Hi @sim2 im not back to work yet as waiting for radiotherapy having had mastectomy 4 weeks ago but I completely got your post, my brain can’t even think about work - and will I actually want to go back (bank account says yes), the anxiety is actually crippling and I don’t feel like anyone outside of the chats on here actually understands
The best piece of advice I was given throughout my treatment was my oncologist telling me not to think about returning to work until “I was crawling the walls and there was nothing else I could think of doing”
I appreciate that not everyone has this choice but if you do have the option it’s definitely the best course of action. Admittedly I wasn’t really enjoying my job at the time but four and a half years later I’m still in the same job and same employer: the upside of facing a cancer diagnosis was losing the “fear” since returning to work I found the strength to request both a pay rise and a promotion.
I appreciate that probably seems a long way off for you, but for now try to take and live each day as it comes.
Waw what an amazing story re yor courage! I’m hoping to become this person too.
I guess you were lucky with your oncologist, mine was insisting that I could work through chemo and I had to go through various roundabouts to get a sick note, so I felt guilty all the way as if I’m faking it.
My work luckily are very supportive, so i’m having a gradual return. I’m also trying to gradually do more social things with friends, and that is hit and miss.
The thing is I will never be crawling the walls missing work and I can always find something to do I’ve been off 12 months so far, I’m aiming to go back in July. Not actually sure my achy joints will let me stand up for an 8 hour shift though.
Haha, honestly apart from having to deal with cancer… the 12 months off was the best thing. Have you taken up any new hobbies or discovered an activity that you like?
