I am new to the forum having had 6 treatments of Chemo (FEC and Taxel) and Radiotherapy. I am now recovering from the radiotherapy (which was such a walk in the park compared to the chemo!) and taking Tamoxifen. It’s now getting close to the time when I need to decide whether to go back to work and finding this decision difficult.
My job (although only part time) is fairly stressful, I work from home and as such find that I am unable to put work to bed. My company have been very supportive of me during my treatment and I’m wondering whether anyone else has had similar feelings, and if so what decisions they have made? I’ve spoken to one of the Breast Cancer advisers and she told me that people generally loose confidence, but I’m wondering how people have felt returning to work, if they have returned to their old jobs?
Many Thanks
JacquiR
I can understand you not being able to put work to bed as my husband works from home as a self employed Web Designer and Developer. He had just started a small business when I was diagnosed, but it was put on hold so he could freelance during my treatment. I didn’t qualify for any benefits so we needed a regular income to keep us afloat. As you can imagine, things have been very tight financially which seems to be the way for cancer patients unfortunately.
I was jobhunting when I found out I had BC and am jobhunting again (although about to take a couple of courses in the hope of retraining). I am not having any success getting interviews and I feel it’s because the application forms have all had the magic question about how many days you have had off sick in the past year. This means I have to be totally honest and I also need a day off every 3 weeks for Herceptin until next May. Whilst we are all covered by the disability acts, I think where employers can discreetly discriminate they will.
Funny thing is, in my case I had lost my confidence when all this happened to me (long story, it was caused by a downward chain of events in my life over a 5 year period). After diagnosis it came back as I figured I would not be able to get through this if I had not confidence. I’m now back to being the old feisty me again (with knobs on lol), so I’m frustrated at not getting any interviews.
I also went on a stress management programme at my local cancer centre and found this helped immensely as they gave us meditation cds to take a way and taught us yoga. Perhaps something like this would help if you could find something in your area?
Hi Jacqui
I returned to work in July having been off for 15 MONTHS! I had mastectomy with immediate recon, chemo, axilliary clearance and radiotherapy. I was hoping to return around April, after radiotherapy, but I was very tired and became quite depressed and could not move on. I was told this is quite common when treatment is finished.
I work in my local hospital and I had just changed jobs when I was diagnosed with cancer! I spent 3 disastrous weeks in my new office. It was SO busy and I just did not know which way to turn - I couldn’t get into it at all. So I was really worried about going back. I was sure I would never cope! I had lost all my confidence.
My GP was very supportive and persuaded me to have anti-depressants just to get me ‘back on track’ and my Oncologist arranged some counselling for me. This all helped and I began to regain confidence and realise I could cope with life again. But I could not return until I felt I was ready. Eventually I felt I was ready to move on and put the cancer behind me.
I returned to work in July - phased in gradually with very good support. I had kept in touch with colleagues at work which helped. I learned the new work quite quickly and I have really enjoyed it. I feel useful again and its so good to have company every day after months of time alone at home! My consultant deals with mostly cancer patients so I feel in my small way I am putting something back. But I am being very strict with myself - I take coffee and lunch breaks and leave work on time. If I need a rest I take it. I am looking after ME - I think I deserve it after all I’ve been through. When it gets busy in the office I do not panic, I do not rush - I have a much more relaxed attitude. I’ll get there in the end! And it is working.
I’ve just been off for 2 weeks as I’ve had my final surgery - nipple construction, a lift to my ‘old’ breast and a couple of adjustments to my tummy. And I can’t wait to get back to work! But slowly again of course.
Good luck with your return to work. Be easy on yourself and don’t do it until you feel you are ready. If your company is being supportive, then do it on your own terms and don’t feel pressured. Perhaps some counselling might help or some complementary therapies as Cherub suggested.
I’ve had an email back from an organisation I applied to saying they will investigate my unsuccessful application. It was in the notes accompanying the the forms that anyone with either a disability or an ongoing medical condition would automatically be offered an interview. Judging by the tone of the email they are on the back foot and a bit worried as they are a charity providing a service for carers.
Thanks for getting back to me with your experiences (and apologies for the delay in my responding!). Cherub as you mentioned, finances do seem to be hit hard with such a long term illness and what you’ve experienced with the discrimination, I have to admit, worries me when I think about going for any other jobs! However like you Poohbear, I’m finding it really difficult to move on with work after my treatment. I’ve now been off for 9 months, having finished radio the week before last, and although I don’t have any depression, I am just worried about going back into old routines and lifestyles that previously lead to a stressful existence, (and may possibly have contributed to my illness?). Thanks for your advice about complimentary therapies though, I am attending regular meditation/healing sessions (called Deeksha healing), they are lovely relaxing sessions where you meditate and receive the transference of grace energy through the laying of hands on your head. I might look into the stress management courses though as perhaps this might offer additional support - thanks! I hope all goes well with your interview application Cherub - please let me know how you get on. Poohbear, I hope the op went well and would love to hear how you get on when you go back to work again.