Hi - starting chemo on 3rd Feb (6 x EC)and work full time. Just wondered if anyone managed to go to work during their chemo or were you too ill?
Hey there. I am a midwife and i wasnt allowed to work due to risk of infection.
I may have been able to for the first 2 cycles but the side effects built up a bit and i was glad to be home for 3,4,5.
Good luck
me neither I work on isolation unit so couldnt with infection risk definate no no for me.
Hi Nigella
After first chemo (FEC) I thought I would be able to go into work at least for the 3rd week but the 2nd and 3rd chemo after effects were much worse and I wouldn’t have been able to do much.
As Evie says, infection is also a risk.
I had FEC chemo and used to have it on a Thursday so by about Tuesday I felt well enough to go back to work apart from once when I was quite poorly. I work in an office and only work 9.30 til 2 though which was about as much as I could handle most days as I was so tired by the time I finished. I suppose I could have or should have had a few more days off but felt that I wanted to maintain as much normality as possible and was lucky that the side effects weren’t too bad for me.
Not sure how I will get on working through rads but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it!
Debs
x
I only work part time but did manage to work 2 full days a week when having EC, treatment week I had EC on a tuesday and worked fri & sat (sometimes had to go home early on the sat) but weeks 2 & 3 managed full days. My Onc thought I was mad as I work in an indoor market so lots of chance of infection, but I was fine (slept lots on sunday & monday).
All I will say is listen to your body, and do what you feel is right - I’m just pigheaded and was determined not to let this bl**dy thing beat me - it did when I had Tax, I wasn’t very well at all, but I put up a good fight!!!, I’m nearly at the end of my radiotherapy now so its all behind me now. Onwards & Upwards!!!
Good luck and be kind to yourself, remember everyone is different and our bodies cope in different ways too
Debs, rads are a doddle compared to chemo, I’ve had 12 of 15 so far and just a little tired in the afternoons
Tracey xx
Hi Nigella,
I think it depends on how you feel after each one and what the risks of infection might be. I wanted to carry on working to try and keep things as normal as possible. I had the week after each FEC off and then two weeks back at work. I’m finding the tax harder so asked GP to sign me off for two weeks I hope to be back at work before the end of the note.
I think it is a good idea to prepare to be off for at least a week and give yourself plenty of recovery time. Your employer has to make a reasonable adjustment under the equalities act 2010. This might mean having reduced hours for a time, anything which might help you be at work if you feel fit enough.
Very best of luck with it all.
Sue x
Hi Nigella
I agree with Sue - I worked full time through six cycles of FEC and later through 6 of Tax - I had the week off after each cycle and then worked for 2 weeks. My employers were generally very good and most of the time were happy to let me “work from home” on the week I didn’t go in. For me it was the right thing, but for others it isn’t and I was lucky, had no infections to cause me problems. I say go for it if you want to, but if you find you can’t, don’t beat yourself up over it. Rads were different - because of the daily treatment and the distance I had to travel, I had to take the time off as sick leave. But that was only 3 weeks. I was glad to work - it really stopped me dwelling on it all and I think made me feel better. Good luck, love Mo x