@poptart Morning … just off the phone with my GP. Drugs imminent- sleeping tablets, just enough to reset and get some quality of sleep back and a non hrt anti flash med, lol. (So many bad jokes in my head.) Picking them up later, sleep drug highly addictive so very short dose but enough to get me as normal as possible.
Hot flash meds lower dose for two weeks, monitor - see how I go. AI (aromatrose inhibitor) starts 1st March … see how it goes!
I had no difficulty reducing my hours previously due to another medical issue which had started to encroach on work. With Equality Disability Work Act going through occupational health had to be granted. Changed my contract initially for a year to 0.8 then permanently on review. No Friday. I’m requesting to have either Monday or Thursday 0.6 so work a block of 3 and 4 off. Due to plenty of time to staff, September change low impact on the school and consistency for children.
I’m 54, 55 in July. I want to keep working but acutely aware of how precious time is now. Recurrence % increases at 10yrs / 15yrs, I don’t want to spend the time inbetween just in the classroom. However, not ready to hang my whiteboard marker up yet. I have staged down over the years going from Deputy Head to TA / cover teacher due to work life balance and being a (grrrr, name) geriatric mum!!
I love being a TA 
much more fun than SLT management. Pay cut sure but was only buying more of the same with the money. Health and family helped the decision - best thing I ever did. Teaching a few afternoons a week and supporting my little pickles in the morning is fantastic, best of both worlds, no weekend planning! Out of school and home by 3.30pm
Have a really good think about what you need and want going forward. The ‘Big C’ to me is the ‘Big Chance to Change’ priorities and habits I had which weren’t necessarily great; kick up the arse I needed to shake it up. Job share could be just what you need
Rads: as far as I know mark up is the pre appointment to ensure they are hitting the right area and subsequently the same area each time. Also talk through what treatment entails, sign off on consent forms. Go tgrpugh side effects and skin care.
Rads itself, fractions, I have 15, so Mon to Fri for 3 weeks. Appointment for fraction is 15mins active treatment plus getting changed. My fractions include booster dose to aux and main boob danger area. From the Rads forum I have got myself a boob(less)tube to wiggle down so feel less exposed. Started to really moisturise area now to get skin as healthy as possible. Need to start arm exercises again, I’ve been a bit lazy, to make sure I can hold position. I think @rbf is a wee bit ahead so gonna get more info from her. Main side effects to skin and rad fatigue usually peak after treatment ends with the fatigue being cummulative with chemo.
Onwards with another week! Hopefully with sleep and considerably less sweaty.
Take care
Karen x
