continuing to work during chemo

I worked full time during chemo.  My job was not physically demanding but it was mentally demanding.  I arranged to have my chemo on Thursday and took Thursday and Friday off every 3 weeks for infusion then had Saturday and Sunday to recover. 

Hugs Michelle.  I had to work during chemo also.  I had 4 rounds of a/c every 3 weeks.  It's not easy but it can be done.  I would work 2-4 six hour days doing paperwork or teaching.  I also was enrolled in college classes and took 18 credit hours at the same time during my mastectomy, port placement, pleurisy, and chemo.  I took 3 weeks off work for the mastectomy, etc.  I had to physically be at one class every week and another class once a month and the rest were online.  Since my tests were on Monday evenings, I had my chemo on Tuesday.  My hard days were days 6-14 after chemo.  Naturally you don't bounce as far back after each chemo so it gets a little harder with each one but I managed just fine.  Don't count on being able really to do anything at home as far as housework if you work, that will take most of your energy.  I found having to focus on all that stuff helped to keep my mind and fears off myself most of the time so it was beneficial.  Listen to your body and rest when it tells you too if you can. 

I've worked.. during chemo, surgery and radiation.  I had few problems. 

I am my husband's office, (20 hours a week) as well as laborer (i clean our rentals during vacancies - very demanding work physically), I'm an accompanist for ballet classes, an ensemble and soloists (30 hours a week involving extensive practice), piano teacher and vigorous housewife.  I had a few bad days during chemo (viral infection) and missed a couple lessons.... that's all.  I was lucky that chemo did not seem to bother me for the most part.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! for this thread. I have my first treatment Thursday and have been reading and searching for ideas about working during chemo. I WANT TO WORK! My supervisor is very supportive and my job is somewhat flexible with hours.

Do any of you that have worked away from home have ideas of what type of things to have on hand to make work easier?

Hi, I went through A/C treatments every 2 weeks, 4 treatments. then Taxol for 12 weeks. During the first treatment I was ok, got a bit tired by day 3-4. The 3rd and 4th treatments were the worst. I remember making myself get up out of bed and trying to walk 50 feet. It was the hardest the 1st week after treatment during the last 2 treatments....but the second week between A/C treatments were ok. Hope this makes sense.

If you are doing Taxol....I felt so much better during Taxol, was able to work half day. I always took Friday off(Day of treatment) If you can afford to take time off do so, chemo is so hard on your immune system. The last thing you want to do is get sick from a cold and have to postpone treatment.

 Hang in there, it will be over before you know it.

Lisa

2.5 years out

IDC, stage IIa, grade 3, 1/8 lymph node+, ER/PR+

I kept a chaise lounge in my office so I could lay down when I needed to.  I worked through surgery, chemo, and rads but it was very hard for me.  I can't count the number of times I fell asleep from sheer exhaustion at my desk.  Good thing I'm the boss. 

I am planning on working throughout my TC x 4, 3 weeks apart tx. I am very discouraged today. I am an RN in a hospital. A big part of my job is going from room to room doing physical assessments, changing dressings, drawing labs, etc. This morning I went to work even though I felt achey the night before. (no fever, though) I woke up in the morning and thought that I felt better. I was there about 1 1/2 hours or so when I started feeling nauseous, especially when I was up walking around. Then, I started to feel the achiness again. My co-workers were concerned about me and suggested I go home. After some thought I realized they were right. I got all emotional and broke down and cried! How embarressing! I am so used to being strong and active and this d#$@& cancer is the pits! I don't know what to do! Thanks for letting me rant!

I'm have 3 of 4 chemo tx done. I am still trying to work. It is getting discouraging because it seems about half the time I am calling in or leaving early sick because of chemo SE. I am an RN at a hospital. Today I felt fine at the beginning of the shift. I started feeling a little weak and shakey a couple of hours into it. Unfortunately, our computer system went bazzerk and the LPN giving meds on my team was behind because it took her forever to file things. There was one pt in particular who was in a lot of pain and needed some meds. Instead of stopping to rest and eat something I jumped in to help the LPN by administering this pts meds for her. Of course it took me forever to document  and by the time I did sit down to take a break it was about an hour later. The rest and food helped as long as I was sitting in the break room. Once I got back on the floor to see pts again I found that I was shaky and unsteady on my feet. I had my bp taken and it wes elevated. I was wheeled to employee health and my husband was called to pick me up.

 I don't know what to do! Is it fair to my co-workers to continue to try to work when I eventually call in sick or leave early on a regular basis?

Please, I need some feedback on my predicament.

I did six TAC chemos while working. I had chemo on Thursday, went to work on Friday (had my nulasta shot then too) and then had the weekend to recover. Most of the time I took the weekend PLUS Monday and Tuesday to rest. So for each chemo I needed three days off of work. I am a social worker with a high stress job. It was a struggle but I needed to work as well. Hang in there! See if you can take a 30 to 45 minute nap at lunch, it was all I could do sometimes to stay awake.

I'm not working.. I have been at the same job now for almost 21 years and it is very stressful.  I am taking this time to get myself back on my feet as this is stressful enough!  I'm enjoying the break but I do at times feel guilty about not working - but then I think of all the stress I had with my current position and then the guilt goes away!  When I go back to work, it will not be in the same position, that's for sure, and when I do go, I want to be prepared physically and mentally.

I had my first chemo last wed. Today I am back at work. I could have come back sooner, but had a bad reaction and got a horrible rash. I am doing 4 rounds before sugery and then 4 after.(plus the 12 months of Herceptin) I am planning a week off for each chemo, but everyone is different. It does feel good to be up and around doing something. I also got to show off my newly shaved head to the co-workers!