Sorry if this seems like a daft question, but I am hoping to work throughout my treatment ( 4 x AC, 4 x Taxotere, coming up for No. 2 this Friday) and I was wondering whether anyone has managed to do this, or am I being a bit too optimistic? I do work with the public and suppose I am a quite open to picking up infections, but so far I haven’t felt too bad, no sickness just a bit tired now and then. As usual, your replies are greatly appreciated.
Tracy x
Hi Tracy
I used to have my chemo on a friday morning and by friday evening i’d be dog sick and felt weak over the weekend, by monday i wasnt always fully ok and would take a monday off but by tuesday i still couldnt feel bothered as i got dressed but as soon as i was outside that door and in the fresh air i was fine and really glad that i was going to work because i think i would of lay on the settee all day feeling sorry for myself and i dont think that would do your mental health anygood, so it is good to give yourself a push. I think alot of women do work but unfort some women react worse to the chemo, i would say see how you feel and listen to your body, you can only try cant you.
good luck
Tracey
xxx
I am about as useful as a chocolate teapot after my chemo…takes about five days then I think about the rest…so a week after I feel fine again… All I can say is…wait and see how you feel.
Hi Tracy,
I have just had EC number 2 today. I get my chemos on a Wed so take the wed - Friday off, obviously have the weekend and return on the Monday. the first night i am usually quite sickly feeling but just washed out and lerthagic on thursday - saturday. Sunday im usually ready for work the next day. Everyone is different so just see how you feel but I agree with twelch - im glad that i can go to work as it keeps my mind off things as I would just veg on the couch but unfort some ladies cannot due to worse side effects.
Best wishes with the rest of your treatment.
Lynne.x
Hi Tracy
My chemo was always on a Friday, and I used to take the following week off sick, then back to work the following Monday. I did find myself getting more tired after each chemo, but making the effort to get to work usually perked me up, and fortunately I only work 9.30am to 2.30pm - which is enough !
I have found it good for me going to work, I have been there for over 10 years and am fortunate enough to work with some of my best friends, who have treated me no differently (as I requested) and have provided me with lots of laughs.
The only thing I would say is that after your chemo you are more susceptible to picking up infections, so if anyone at work has infections/colds etc, then don’t go in !
As I say, I’ve found it good to go into work when I can but it’s entirely up to you and the way you feel. Everyone reacts differently to chemo, and don’t push yourself if you’re really not up to it.
Take care
lots of love Julie xx
Thanks for all your replies, I will just listen to my body and see how I feel - my job is quite physical, but I do work with some very helpful people who would be more than happy to help with the lugging about (I’m a window dresser, so have to carry mannequins and heavy props in and out of the windows, plus there is a lot of ladder work).
I will just have to avoid some of the customers who love to sneeze and cough without putting their hands over their mouths or using tissues!
Thanks again and good luck to you all,
Love,
Tracy xxx
I have added this post on behalf of new user Sam
Kind Regards
Sam
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care
Tracy, Its not a daft question at all! Different chemos affect people differently.
I had 6 sessions of FEC in 2004 and worked (albeit part-time at home) 7 days after each chemo. I’ve just finished 8 sessions of Taxotere and found it hard to gauge as the effect was changeable so I only managed to work the week before the next chemo.
Picking up infections could cause problems and mess up your bloods or worse but I was exposed to kids and they carry allsorts of germs!!
I felt quite good after my first TAX but it had a accumalative effect on me over time.
Anyway, fingers crossed that it continues to go well
Sam
x
Hi Tracy,
I finished my chemo 3 weeks ago (I was on the NeoTango trial) and I’ve been lucky enough to work throughout - I’ve had about 20 days off since I was diagnosed in March. I felt very rough at times but emotionally it’s been better for me to have something else to focus on. Also, from what other people have said on this site, going back to work after a prolonged absence seems to be harder to cope with.
If you can, and your employers are flexible enough, just take each day as it comes, but don’t beat yourself up if you find you’re not up to it. Chemo is likely to make you more tired as it progresses and even with a desk job I’ve struggled sometimes.
I’ve been lucky - my boss has been great - very understanding if I’ve had to phone in sick at the last minute. It probably would have been easier for them in terms of covering my work if I’d been signed of for the whole six months.
Good luck with your treatment anyway and hope you go on feeling well,
Julie
Hi Tracy,
just to add my ten pence worth! Personally I haven’t worked since I was diagnosed in March. There was so little time between my diagnosis and masctectomy that I simply didn’t have time to work. Once I was recovered from the op I had hoped to go back but somehow that never happened. I started chemo in May (I’m on E-CMF) and again was planning a return to work during chemo but this has never happened either!! I was on accelerated Epi, only 2 weeks between each dose, and really didn’t feel well enough to work. My work is quite a drive away from where we live and it was the journey that I couldn’t face. I was given some work to do at home but thanks to the dreaded ‘chemo brain’ I’m ashamed to say I haven’t even started it yet!
Now I’ve switched to the CMF I do get a 3 week break after my day 8 dose and prob could work for at least one of those 3 weeks. To be honest though I spend so much time feeling like sh*t that I’ll be bu**ered if I’m gonna spend my only few ‘good’ days at work!! I like to go off and do nice things (this usually involves spending large amounts of money though!!). I have awesome employers (I’m in the Armed Forces) and am still on full pay so I am one of the lucky ones I guess. Many people don’t have a choice.
When I was debating going back to work whilst on chemo, the nurses at my day centre said that unless I absolutely had to work, as bills needed to be paid or I was going insane at home, then it was prob best not to. They advised me to concentrate wholly on gettin myself better and as I work with loads of people who have always got coughs and colds I was happy to steer clear! I’ve almost finished my chemo now and, fingers crossed, my bloods have always been awesome and I’ve never had so much of a snifter of an infection. I do believe that this is largely down to the fact that I’m not surrounded by loads of people every day!
I’m now lookin at planning a phased return to work in the new year. I start rads mid Nov and have no intention of working during them. This leads me nicely into Christmas, so I hope to start back in Jan. I am nervous as I have been away for sooooo long but I am in regular contact with all my work colleagues so hopefully it’ll soon feel like I’ve never been away,
Sorry for wittering on!!!
Take care,
Kelly
-x-
Hi,
Thanks for all your helpful advice, I have just had my second chemo yesterday and don’t feel too bad yet (early days I know) luckily I have the week after next off, so will have a good rest.
My boss has been absolutely lovely, and tells me to take what time I need. But about 2 weeks before my dx I bought a house so I need to work as much as poss to pay for it - it needs total modernisation and obviously that won’t be cheap! Having said that, it does give me something else to focus on as well.
Have a lovely weekend and take it easy!
Love and best wishes,
Tracy xxx
I was working for more than 2 weeks out of every 3 week cycle… it was right for me, as I need to keep some sort of normality in my life. If I was at home, I’d go stir-crazy and end up thinking about breast cancer even more than I do already!! I appreciate that it’s not possible for everyone, but if I felt OK I saw no reason not to go in and get on with it! Now that I’ve finished the intravenous chemo (4 cycles) and am now on tablets (4 cycles of Xeloda), I feel so much better and have had no time off.
You just have to do what feels right for you and your body. Plenty of spoiling yourself too 
I seem to have spent a lot more money since diagnosis, but have no holiday to splash out on, due to the treatment programme, so I’m hoping it all balances out!
Good luck and hope you don’t feel too bad
Tracy
Like you i am hoping to work through my chemo, i have had my first of 6 Fec with the next due a week on Wednesday. I was of the Thursady Friday after the first but went back to work on the Monday.
My boss is also being great, i think the thing is to have an open attitude and just take each week as it comes. I have also been very lucky so far, few symtoms, lets hope it continues.
Best of luck, take care
Lesley x
I am self-employed and work solitarily at home. My BC nurse said I would sail through my chemo and be able to work. How wrong she was. I discovered very quickly that working meant less time for caring for myself and far too much time worrying about how I would cope with the influx of work.
So I stopped working altogether - best thing I’ve ever done. All I’m worried about now is having to go back to work once I am finished with my treatment. I’m having a rest for the first time in 20 years, and I’m in no hurry to go back to slaving over a hot computer!