Hello I returned to work a couple of weeks after my de novo diagnosis in September 2019. I am lucky to be able to work at home and have a supportive employer (a government department). I worked for 2 weeks between my 3 weekly chemo and hormone treatments for the first few months, but was signed off for 3 months following a chest infection and a long bout of cellulitis. I returned to work 4 days a week in April. For me, it’s been helpful to have something to focus on as I’m shielding. Sometimes I enjoy it, but having such a diagnosis makes you re-evaluate what is important (as you will know). I would rather spend my time doing things I enjoy, but covid has put a stop to that for the time being, so working is mostly a welcome distraction for the moment. I am currently responding well to treatment but when things take a different turn, I’ll consider Ill health retirement. The biggest hurdle has been the mental and emotional challenges, rather than the physical side effects. The unpredictability of the disease and not knowing what course it will take is so difficult. Reading positive stories on here helps and I try to take one day at a time. Some of the time I’m okay and some days I’m not - I think it’s important to acknowledge that it’s normal to have bad days and to work your way through it. Basically I try to live a normal existence and the endless appointments and uncertainty have now become normal to me. You enjoy your job and have a great employer and colleagues, so I would continue working for as long as you want to and are able. I hope this helps a little. Good luck!
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