Double mastectomy - how long until returning to return to work?

peg645

Diagnosed in May - .6 cm Her2 tumor w/ successful lumpectomy - nothing in sentinel node. Clear margins. Taxol & Herceptin or TDM1 to start in 2 weeks. Will be having double mastectomies now due to gene issue. Will not be having radiation. "Other than the cancer", I'm in great health...

Am an at will employee in a high-paying temporary contract job - over 55 hrs/week, but desk work, not terribly stressful other than the long hours. They are asking if I will be moving with them in the fall. I am 61.

Obviously my health comes first. I have been told I may very well be able to work during chemo. But what are your experiences with time off for double mastectomies? And overall time for reconstruction, etc.? Is there a "typical" recovery time? Best case scenarios? Have read flap recovery/procedures involved longer than implants, but even so, think I prefer the former.

I believe they are trying to work with me, but it is a big company with need now - as do I need the income. Very few options for any other work. I am just trying to get some kind of general best - worst times I can expect to be away. When I find descriptions - such as even on this site, they will say things like "up to 4 weeks; up to 6 weeks". Then my smart alec niece brags about doing her toenails the next day. She's no help. ;-)

Thanks to all!

muska

I can only speak from my personal experience. I had bilateral mastectomy + immediate reconstruction with silicone implants. Recovery was not complicated and I would say going back to a desk job after four weeks might be possible, five weeks is more feasible. There is no question you should be able to start working 'remotely' even sooner if needed. I returned to the office the day after they removed all the drains which in my case was after five weeks. Having drains for so long in unusual, they are usually removed much sooner.

hummingbirdlover

Hello,

I too can only speak from my own experience. I took 6 weeks off for my BMX and although I probably could have gone back a week or more earlier, I'm glad I had the extra days. I had delayed reconstruction so took 3 weeks off when I had my TE placement surgery and am planning on 2-3 weeks off for the exchange surgery. I think everyone is different but I would say take as much as you feasibly can.

Straitlover

I had BMX w/ TE placement 7/30/2014. My original plan was to go back the day after Labor Day, basically 4 weeks and a long weekend. However, I ended up in the hospital for almost a week w/ an infection, so that pushed me back a week. Then, the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, my last remaining drain fell out (I was still on IV antibiotics from the infection), so my PS did an outpatient sx on me Labor Day, powerwashing out the pocket and replacing the TE on my right side, so that added another week. So I ended up being out 6 weeks. Also, that first week back I did not work full days (worked about 6 hrs each day). I still had a drain (was replaced w/ the second sx) and I was still doing IV abx, so my energy was not 100%.

tlew

For me I took 5 weeks off from work. It took an extra week to get back into the swing of things, waking up early and stuff. But it was fine after a week up until I had to fill my expanders

mama-bear

I went back 5 weeks post-op. Found out real quick that I needed another week. So I have been working about 4-5 hours a day depending on how I feel and what muscles are sore.

peg645

Thanks all for your replies - thought niece's were a bit off - after the toenail comment she said she was traveling in a week. I was off 4 days (was going to do it in 2!) for the lumpectomy. And had read 4-6 weeks is typical for the double mastectomy. Was able to chat w/ my surgeon, and she confirms. Now waiting for random selection for study... Thanks for your input!

pharmergirl

Breast surgeon said 3-4 weeks off. I ended up taking 5. 6 would have been better. I was in enough pain to have some difficulty. Ice/naproxen/hydrocodone/flexeril got me through thse first difficult days back. I now have to belt my work smock to keep the weight of it off my chest. I would recommend 6 weeks if possible.

Juliecc

I took 4 weeks off for my BMX with tissue expaders placed. It's a desk job and I did well but I missed my naps! I was tired a lot still. For my exchange surgery, I took about 12 days off and then about the same when I had fat grafting. 55 hours per week? That might be tough at 4 weeks.