Hello all - I thought I’d posted on this thread but it has disappeared (often happens, ****** phone!).
Thanks Swampy, yes I did enjoy my afternoon out on Tuesday. I’m trying to make the most of my freedom, because I will be returning to work very soon. We have managed to squeeze in a week’s holiday before the radiotherapy starts, so I will be going on leave almost as soon as I am back at work, but we had to book that week because it’s the only one free of hospital appointments, and my employer is OK about it.
I had my radiotherapy planning appointment today, and it was fine, apart from Storm Doris which was in full swing this morning (had to hold onto the wig outside the hospital, lol). I was pleased that I was able to raise my arms without any pain or discomfort while on the CT scanner, and that the tattoos weren’t very painful. It really does pay to do the exercises. The CT scan was nowhere near as uncomfortable as the MRI scans were. The nurses also confirmed that the bit of fluid left under my arm is not a problem, and that it will be OK to have Herceptin injections on the same day as radiotherapy. I will be going back next Friday for a briefing about preparing for radiotherapy and managing risks of lymphodema.
Like many of you, I have slightly creaky joints and a bit of pain at times, but I am not in agony, and to be honest it’s no worse than it was before chemotherapy. I am not yet on hormone tablets, only Herceptin, so I think it is mostly age, excess weight and not getting enough exercise during chemotherapy, rather than the medication itself. Now I am getting out and about more, things may improve, and I hope I will be better able to cope with the effects of the Letrozole when I do start to take it.
Rant away, fellow returners to work! I am going back next Wednesday (1 March). I am well enough to work now, so I can’t justify being off sick anymore. I am having a staged return, 2 days a week (pro rata) at first, and I will be working through radiotherapy. Yes I am apprehensive, and I also think my BC was partly work stress related, but I know the longer I leave it to return to work, the harder it will be. I am a town planner working on local plans (which judging from conversation with my manager the other day, don’t seem to have progressed significantly since I went on sick leave, lol. Probably not entirely my colleagues’ fault though, as planning has always been a political football, same as health and education). I specialise in waste and minerals, but probably will have to muck in (if you will pardon the pun) with other topic areas. There are two people less in our team now than there were: one retired just before I went on sick leave and another left a few weeks ago to take up another job elsewhere. So while I don’t know exactly what c**p is in store, I can guess. So I may be ranting about it next week…
Snail888 - as Fairycake says, your employer should allow a staged return to work if you feel you can only cope with going back part time at first, because they are legally obliged to make ‘reasonable adjustments.’ It is also better for you and your employer if you go back part time at first, rather than go back full time, only to find you can’t cope with it.
Suebond88 and Chloe - I can understand why you might be a bit apprehensive about having surgery after chemotherapy, but you will be fine as long as they allow enough time to recover. I had my surgery about 5 weeks after my last T infusion, which was just enough time to recover. The operation was also a lot easier to cope with than the chemotherapy. The wound healed within a fortnight, and the only problem I had was fluid, which has mostly gone down now. If you keep doing the exercises, you should get full movement back in the arm on the affected side within a few weeks. I only had WLE and SNB though (no axillary clearance), so it will probably take longer to recover if you are having a bigger operation than that or (heaven forbid) a further operation is needed because the surgeon doesn’t quite get it all first time.
Gracie - if there is a long wait for counselling and BCC Moving Forward courses near to you, see if Macmillan can help, as Aine has suggested (macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/coping/your-emotions/dealing-with-your-emotions). Otherwise, you could ask your BCN if there are any other cancer charities running similar courses in your area such as Penny Brohn (pennybrohn.org.uk), or if there is a local cancer support group you could join.
Truey and Aine - I have also found my nails deteriorated after chemotherapy (how weird is that!) but although they are dry and discoloured, they are still hanging on. It may have been luck as much as anything I have been doing, but as I mentioned I have used Onicolife drops all through chemotherapy, which may have made a difference. As I am running out of them and reluctant to order any more, I have started using Sally Hansen Vitamin E nail and cuticle oil (available from Boots), which I think has helped. To be honest, any oil or cream that lubricates and conditions the nails will probably help at least to some extent.
Truey - don’t worry, the eyelashes will come back eventually - mine have only recently reappeared and are now growing quite strongly!
