Working During Treatment

Jojobird

Hello dear TNBC Sisters,

Just wondering how some of you are handling work/life during your chemo/rad treatment. I have the option of taking disability until December. I am currently in chemo, Taxol for 10 more weeks, and I feel tired but relatively ok. Rads start in October. I have the option of taking disability until late November, and I think I plan to take it, but I feel a little guilty about it. I feel like I should be really sick in order to justify the time off.

But here is the thing: the blood draws, infusions, onc appts, phys therapy, pharmacy pick ups, and acupuncture appts (neuropathy) take up a lot of my week, and there is also the PTSD aspect of mastectomy recovery and parenting my special needs child. I have a wonderful husband and good job, but I really need this time to heal right now, but at the same time I feel guilty for not wanting to dive back into work. Anyone else struggle with this? How are you dealing with work/life/disease management balance?

Carrielt

This is my very first post. I just went on disability yesterday, five days after first chemo. I struggled so much with whether I should work to "keep my mind busy", but ultimately decided I needed to concentrate on God and on healing. I am feeling so relieved after having made the decision to stop working. My current plan is to take 8 weeks now and then 4 more when I have DMX after chemo. Part of my decision is based on not wanting to take any of my time for granted. I want to fully live whatever months/years I have, and not just survive.

Redporchlady

Did you check to see if your disability policy will let you work when you can. Mine did and that was wonderful. My main priority was my health and doing everything to make sure the chemo did it's job. I worked when I was able to. You have to make the right choice for you

Redporchlady

Did you check to see if your disability policy will let you work when you can. Mine did and that was wonderful. My main priority was my health and doing everything to make sure the chemo did it's job. I worked when I was able to. You have to make the right choice for you

Romers143

I'm in this same mind frame right now. I'm currently doing AC for 8 weeks every other week and I'm half way done now. I do chemo on Thursday and work from home Friday and then back to the office Monday. Well yesterday I was so exhausted when I got home I slept for 2 hours. I have a great husband that helps me do that but I have a 10 month old, 15 year old and an 11 year old and I felt like I didn't get to see them much. When I get through these AC's I'll be doing Taxol for 12 weeks. I think at that point I'm going to go out on Short Term Disability bc I want to be able to rest during the day and spend my "good" time with them in the evenings. I can't do that if I'm exhausted from working all day. I wish we could to intermittent STD but we can't so it's al or nothing. I'm handling chemo well but like I said the exhaustion gets to be a lot. And for me I'm out of time anyway so any days I take off for chemo or apts I'm already not getting paid. Might as well go out on STD and be able to rest and fight the cancer!

Fiercer

JoJobird - When i went through chemo, surgery and radiology I had just started a new job and didn't qualify for time off.  The chemo for me was not so bad outside of the 3rd day after starting the nuelastin shots.  My boss let me take off time for treatments, bad days and whatever else I needed.  When i started radiation after surgery, that is when it got dicey for me.  I was exhausted and just wanted to sleep.  I believe it was the cumulative effect of chemo, surgery recovery and radiation all together.

If your employer is allowing you to take time, or take time as needed, don't feel guilty about using it.  You will be able to concentrate on recovery!

In retrospect, i should have taken a leave of absence, unpaid.  Trying to work while your body is exhausted does not always reflect in the greatest of work product, i suffered from chemo fog and I got dinged on my review for it.