Quit Work 1 year after going back

Opale

I quit a good paying (but stressful job) one year after returning following my recovery. It was just too stressful and I wasn't handling the anxiety, stress very well. I would get uncharacteristically angry and had trouble controlling it. I was also still having some memory and concentration issues (that were much better) but still made it difficult to work in a very busy environment For me, it was the SE from Letrozole. (I found that out after I spend time researching and getting it out of my system.)

Just wondering if anyone was able to successfully continue to work and what support you received from your company, coworkers that made a difference for you. I'm just wondering if I had contacted our Employee Assistance Program and received support early on in the process if it would have made a difference for me. I compleltely forgot about our EAP and asking for accommodation. Let me know what helped you remain at work. Best, Opale

Shellsatthebeach

We have a Fed law in the US called ADA. It basically allows anyone with a disability or disabling disease (like cancer) to receive accommodations on the job. I'm going back to work soon. The biggest accommodation I will need is frequent breaks. Other than that, hopeful things will be fine. My job is also fast paced.

Opale

We have an accommodation requirements in Canada as well. I just forgot to ask. I just kept going thinking that eventually my SE would lessen and go away. I did a graduated return to work over 6 weeks and then moved to full time with no accommodation. I was just focused on getting back to my normal self. It didn't happen and apparently to my boss I was doing a good job and got offered a promotion (which I turned down because of the stress).

Shellsatthebeach

Opale, everyone experiences different symptoms which can ebb and flow and change over the course of cancer. It is good that you recognized you needed to give yourself a break from undue stress in your life. Life is too short! Enjoy this time and don't look back. Feel at peace with your decision.

Opale

Hi, unfortunately my SE did not ebb and flow. for me. That was my experience. For me, it was the Letrozole. I still need to work and not having a job is very stressful too. My post is to try to make a difference for other women in the workplace if I can find out from the community what support helped them stay at their jobs once they were back to work full-time. And, I suggest caution about telling people how to live their life. We don't want to give our friends in our community a proverbial pat on the head. Best, Opale

MTwoman

Opale, I can only offer my own experience, and hope that it helps you or others. When I was diagnosed, I worked as a therapist and crisis response team member (one of 3 for 24/7 coverage) for a local community mental health center. (I actually remember taking call within 48 hours of my last surgery) And while my job was at times stressful, I chose to focus on helping others with their problems as a break from thinking about my own. I did ask for some assistance for my crisis team role, and the team added several people to serve as 'back-ups', in case I wanted to get rid of some overnight or weekend coverage.

Also, I had many friends who were/are therapists or psychiatrists, so I had any number of people who were supportive and nonjudgmental. When people asked what they could do, I was thankful and gave them some options. In addition to activating my own personal support system, I attended a support group at the local cancer support center and participated in retreats and did a 'Riding for Recovery' (horseback riding). I also started mindfulness/meditation work. I highly recommend that AND there are actual studies that have been conducted showing it's usefulness in women with bc. I'll post a few links here for your consideration.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3457885/

http://www.nicabm.com/pink-ribbon-mindfulness-mindfulness-meditation-and-cancer-recovery/

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-017-3714-8

https://goamra.org/breast-cancer-survivors-find-pain-pill-relief-mbct/

and this link is to a clinical trial that still seems to be accepting participants:

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02647216

Sending you warm thoughts and ((hugs))

Opale

Thanks for the info. Best, Opale

Shellsatthebeach

My bad. I thought your side effects were from the cancer. There is a big difference between experiencing problems due to the cancer itself vs side effects from medication.

Opale

No problem. They are gone now - along with the Letrozole.

muska

I didn't stop working full-time during treatment that lasted a full year. Pretty much for the same reasons as MTwoman. I work in a rather high stress corporate setting but can work from home if needed. I took advantage of it with full support of my manager and made sure I don't work overtime while in active treatment. That was it, nothing else

sm627

Hi Opale,

I started back at work this month after having a mastectomy this past June. My boss allowed me to reduce my hours at the preschool I work at. My co-teachers also helped me by being around to help me work with some of our more challenging children, and the head teacher of my classroom gave me a lighter case load of children to do so I have 3 children instead of 6 to do reports on. That has helped me ease back into working with high energy children.

Hope things are starting to get better for you.

Sending you many warm hugs!