After surgery I’m now adjusting to taking tamoxifen, which is making me very groggy. I am starting radiotherapy in a couple of weeks time. After talking to my oncologist and gp they gave me the go ahead to take a break now whilst I can before radiotherapy begins. I have been able to come away over the half term with family. I work as a teacher and am feeling really guilty for doing this, but decided it would do me good. I’ve been signed off until the end of the summer term.
So I came away and the first day I bumped into a family I know as I have taught/ teach their children. I am now worried that rumours will spread about me being on holiday whilst off, obviously they don’t know. I’m wondering if I should message my boss to say I’m having a little break over half term before my treatment, in case the pupil tells others. It’s the school holidays anyway so I don’t need to be available.
I used to be an employment lawyer (now retired) and we would advise employees on sick leave/sick pay to advise their employers if they were going on holiday during sick leave so that the absence can be correctly recorded, particularly if you are on SSP (which I suspect you are not). If your employer records this week as sick leave because you have not told them that you are taking it as holiday, whatever your contractual sick pay allotment in days or weeks is will be reduced by the number of days/weeks taken as holiday. Don’t do yourself out of sick pay particularly as everyone on sick leave is legally entitled to take holiday within their contractual entitlement. I think, from the tone of your post, you would feel much better for the transparency. You’re doing nothing wrong, in fact, you’re doing the right thing, as sanctioned by your medical team to have some RnR.
Thanks for your advice. I don’t take holidays, the school holidays don’t count as sick leave. I am still on sick leave and have another fit note to send in. I’m not worried legally, But I was just thinking I feel guilty and should maybe text my head of department to say when my radiotherapy session is starting and I’ve taken a break over half term whilst I can. Otherwise it will look worse if they hear about it?
I think you’ve answered your own question really. If you can drop a line to say exactly what you’ve said here and feel better about it then do it. Even though you’ve got absolutely nothing to feel guilty/concerned about! Don’t spoil your holiday by being worried about the impact of what someone may or may not say. Enjoy your time away and the very best of luck with the rads. I found it the easiest bit of active treatment.
Dear dotty4,
Enjoy your well deserved break, however if your feeling uncomfortable let your team know, I think you will feel better and relaxed
ENJOY TIli 
Ah 2 of us at work had breast cancer within a year of each other. Both of us took a holidays before coming back and in between treatments, nobody batted an eyelid in either case. People expect that once a person has a cancer diagnosis, they are going to be off for months and what they do in that time is of no concern. Getting through to the other side of cancer treatment by any means possible includes looking after your mental health. Upshot is that the guilt you feel is unjustified, its not like being off with a chest infection, you are not expected to be in your sick bed the whole time. Turn it around, would you be gossiping and think that anyone else off work for cancer treatment is doing wrong by going on holiday? Certainly hope not. What we know is that the mental effort it takes saps energy to a huge extent and having a recharge from a holiday, could be considered as needed self-care and theraputic.
You hear of people determined to work around all their treatment, but that is usually by choice, it’s never expected, and people who do that are in the minority.
Enjoy your hol, try not to give it a second thought. The least you deserve is a holiday after what you’ve been though, thats what anyone would think.
I worked in a school and kept my head up to date of all my treatment and breaks I needed between. It was very casual as a text update. I was signed off from diagnosis until I eventually took redundancy. I chose not to go back for many reasons. I told my head that I didn’t want the children and parents to know of my diagnosis, they just knew I was off sick. I saw some at the supermarket and didn’t feel guilty, I knew why I was off and so did my head, that’s all that matters.
Taking the short breaks away helped with anxiety and was a nice bit of relief from the treatment and hospital visits. I saw it as part of my wellbeing and recovery. My active treatment was 15 months, so took several short breaks when I felt well enough.
Make the most of your breaks, don’t feel guilty. They will do you the world of good.
As a retired teacher, I would agree that it’s a good idea to keep your headteacher in the loop. It’s an even better idea to take every opportunity to have a relaxing break that will help your wellbeing and keep you resilient and strong for your treatment.
I’m sure you give freely of your time and energy when you are working and when the time comes to return to the classroom you’ll do the same again. Just focus on your own needs for a while xx