I’ve got my planning appointment on the 21st and so expect to start radiotherapy fairly soon. When I start, I’ll have to travel up to London every day for three weeks. I’m wondering whether I’ll be able to continue work during this time. What’s your experience? Did you get too tired to work? And how long did you feel tired for - might I need some time off work after radiotherapy finishes?
Thanks,
Yvonne
Hi Yvonne
Not sure how far you have to travel. I am 37 and have to travel 2 hr round trip for radio, plus 30 min in hospital. I felt at the beginning that I was a bit of a fraud not working, but as time has gone on I feel fighting this cancer is a full time job on its own and I really don’t think I could handle work as I work with the public in a guidance role I felt that I was too wrapped up in myself to be any real good to anyone else.
I’m not generally a pathetic soul but this is a tough ride and I think you have to do what is right for you.
I don’t know your circumstances but I found radio (on 17 or 30) has been relatively easy compared to chemo - good luck with your decision.
MuddyXX
Its not to bad to begin with…but as the sessions go on, you do find your energy levels being hammered, well I did anyway. Had a 45 min drive there…gawd knows how long loitering to get zapped…then home again…was wiped out by lunchtime. See how you go…all you can do…if you can do it, do it, if you cant then dont beat yourself up
Thanks for the advice, Muddy and Buttons. Muddy, I know what you mean about feeling like a fraud! I worked through chemo (one and a half weeks off, one and a half weeks on) but have been off full-time since my mastectomy in late Nov. Last week, I really felt I could have gone back to work but wanted some ‘me’ time after Christmas so stayed off. I felt guilty every day!
I’m 47, and will have roughly the same journey time - an hour each way plus however long they take at the hospital. I run an IT department which takes a lot of mental strength, especially when dealing with tricky staff issues, but not much physically. From what Buttons said about getting tired as time goes on, I guess I’ll start by working alongside the radiotherapy and see how I get on.
Psst - don’t tell my boss but part of me rather fancies the idea of three weeks off while feeling relatively okay
I worked all through rads - had the earliest appts they had and got into work about lunchtime. I had already had three months s/l with post op probs and as I live alone most of the time felt that I really needed to be back. I wasnt tired at all - having said that, I had hospital transport so didnt have to drive myself and my work isnt physical at all - just research and computer stuff. Do whatever is best for you - if you start off by trying to work and its hard then dont hesitate to change your mind.
Love Laine
I worked all through rads - I work part time & scheduled my appointments for after work. I decided that would be easier than going to work, then going to the hospital, then going back to work again. I couldn’t get early morning appointments as they were all taken. I found it all very tiring and ended up taking a sick day half way through, just through tiredness. I don’t think the rads caused any problems, it was having to turn up to the hospital everyday, doing that on top of my normal working day, and then racing home trying to run that too on limited time. I also found the late-running of the appointments very stressful - they were never on time, the worst day was 1.5 hours late. I never knew what time I was going to get home, and with three children there is always a lot to do at home. It didn’t help that my daughter’s 18th fell in the middle of all of it.
I ended up taking a week’s unpaid leave after rads was finished - just so I could have some ‘me’ time without feeling that I should have been at work. That was really nice.
Hello Yvonne
Dont feel guilty about taking time out for you. I have not worked since my first op on 28th sept and have now had 0 of 26 rads. Just having time to snooze when I need it and not having to worry about anything but getting better has made this journey so much easier. The treatment is not tiring but the soreness might give you disturbed nights and the travelling is definately tiring. Hanging around if they are running late also makes fitting in work awkward. Just look after yourself, you owe it to those who love you to get better,
Best wishes
Hilary
Hi Yvonne,
I would agree with most of the others - the travelling and hanging around is almost more tireing than the actual rads! If it was me I’de take the three weeks off or at least the last week off as the tiredness builds up towards the end. Oh yes start slapping on the aquous cream on now!
cheers
caroline
This has helped me …am new on here and trying to do a one year post grad course when suddenly I find I have breast cancer and wonder if I can continue even tho its part time…have had lumpectomy and now face 15 sessions of radiotherapy…anyone offer the best advice to prepare for this please??? thx to you all and best wishes Thialoz
Hi Girls
Thought I’d add my bit on here, hope you don’t mind ! I work part time (25 hours a week). As I had chemo first, I worked in between sessions (i.e. had the chemo day off which was a Friday, followed by the following week). Chemo finished on 31st August, so I went back to work again up until 1st October. Had mastectomy and node removal on 3rd October, and have only just returned to work (Monday). I was hoping to go back after my op and before I started rads (0n 26th Nov) but my GP advised me not to, reminding me that I’d had breast cancer not flu. I had three weeks of rads, but my appointments were all over the place so it wouldn’t have been worth going into work. I also found the journey to hospital (about an hour or so away) and the waiting around very tiring. I drove myself for the last week and was absolutely knackered by the end of it.
My skin didnt really start to feel sore until about 10/14 days after rads had finished, but like Caroline, I slapped on the aqueous cream- and still am doing !
As I said, I returned to work on Monday, but have to say am feeling really tired already. Hopefully will soon get back into the swing of things.
Anyway girls, to work or not to work is up to you and your circumstances. Personally, if you can take the time off then do so, you’ll need the rest.
Good luck to everyone going through rads - its a doddle compared to chemo !
Lots of love
Julie xxx
Hi girls
Rads cause quite a lot of damage to your body, however up-beat you are feeling. That’s why we get tired; the poor ole bodies are working really hard to repair that damage, and that’s going to go on for quite a while after the treatment finishes. Don’t feel the slightest bit guilty about taking time off work. Just think what you would say to a colleague in your position … bet you’d be telling them that work is the last thing they should stress over. I am finding that the mental / concentration side of things is just as challenging (or even more so) than the physical side, and leaves me feeling drained and exhausted more than physical activity (which actually seems to make me feel much better). Best of luck.
Stockbeck
Hi girls,
I did not work through my 20 sessions of radiotherapy. I work as a Medical Secretary which is quite a stressful and tiring job in itself. I think to work would have been very difficult as although sometimes I was in and out in 20 minutes, at other times I was at the hospital for a couple of hours. You also start to become very tired towards the end of the treatment and found I needed to rest or sleep more. Skin starts to get quite sore also and need to keep using the aqueous cream. I was also prescribed hydrocortisone cream on the last week. I am fortunate that I have still been paid from work on sick pay as I have worked at the hospital for 16 years but would advise anyone to try not to work if possible. My radiotherapy finished 3 weeks ago and I am returning to work at the end of January as the effects of the treatment still continue for a few weeks after, i.e. skin redness and tiredness.
Good luck.
Sandra
Okay, all of this has been really helpful - thanks, ladies! Reading all your thoughts, I’m edging closer and closer towards taking the time off. It’s only three weeks, after all - not months and months, like for chemo. Afterwards, I can work from home some of the time if I’m still tired.
In the meantime, I’ve got my prosthesis fitting appointment looming. Call me nuts, but I’m really looking forward to it!
Yvonne