Hi all,
im coming to the end of active treatment for TN grade 3 breast cancer. I had 14 rounds of chemo, conservative breast surgery and 20 rounds of radiotherapy which ends next week.
I’m thinking about when to return to work, I am a nurse and love my job but there is no way I’d be able to manage full time and 12 hour shifts. I’m meeting with OH mid March to discuss rtw, they are encouraging a phased return which is great.
I have 2 children (11 and 9) who have been resilient but are expressing anxiety at me going back to work, so I have more than money or job to consider.
The main side effect I’ve had throughout is fatigue, I hit a wall around 3pm each day and I generally in bed by 9 each night.
Im looking for advise really on how long after active treatment is good to return? I’m thinking May, but my husband is keen for me to rest and go back in September.
Hi, what a dilemma. For me I would get my medical team to advise on my physical ability, then I would check my own emotional status. As the two are so interlinked I feel you need to be absolutely top notch for both. I am very glad I’m retired from my teaching as no way could I have managed myself and the physical and emotional demands of my students. Stress is not good for cancer patients, so you must bear that in mind. I was told that rads can affect you up to two years after the treatment, and I have found this to be true with some pain and stiffness in my arm pit and boob…what’s left of it! ? I think you need to discuss a phased return to ease you in, but also the possibility of reduced hours. Your body, as you know as a nurse, has been through a very traumatic experience and rushing back before you are ready , I feel, is not a good idea. Hope you get sorted. X
Take as long as you need. The NHS will finish you off - and won’t care - if you are not careful.
12 hour shifts are truly awful when you are fit and well!
Hi MayneSamantha,
I think Joemic sums it up well (we both returned to work at same time).
Me?
Was looking forward to going back as I didn’t want C to define me, I wanted to be defined as a professional who has served the country my entire career.
Shocked how tired I was (and am) physically and mentally.
Talk to your manager and colleagues openly, you may “look OK” and will naturally try to “behave OK” but better to manage everyone’s expectations, including your own.
I was told it takes a year to get back to where you were (at work) ; four months in, I am beginning to think that was sound advice. I’m doing OK and have fantastic empathy from manager/ colleagues - they are all encouraging me to be less hard on myself!
Difference between ‘being off work’ and being too much ‘in work-mode’ - long transition after what we have been through.
So, my advice is don’t commit to anything you can’t take a step back on, keep it flexible. Take all the ‘slack’ offered to you whilst it is on offer.
X
Please take your time.
I crashed, quite drastically, 2-3 weeks after I finished radio; and was wiped out for 2 months. Then a slow return.
Graded exercise made a huge difference to my recovery - I would urge you to try and fit some into your day (weight or HIIT in particular)
I wish you well