Work after surgery and stuff

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cherneski
cherneski Member Posts: 726
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
Work after surgery and stuff
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  • cherneski
    cherneski Member Posts: 726
    edited April 2009

    I am scheduled for a unilateral mastectomy Wednesday May 6th.  Onc. said I will definetly need chemo, not sure about rads yet.  But Onc. doesnt know what kind of chemo yet and for how long.  PS wont do recon until I have stopped smoking for minimum of 6 weeks ( I am not doing very well with quitting right now).  PS told me 6 weeks out of work for recon.

    So my question is does anyone know about how long I will be out of work?  Will they throw me back to work while doing chemo?  Will I be out for a few weeks then go back, then be out again.  I would rather just stay out till it is all done. 

    Confused again, it seems like as soon as my head is clearer from one thing I find another thing to obsess about.  Hense the name AKA Sybil.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2009

    Deborah (Sybil) - I did not have a mastectomy (lumpectomy recommended for me) and am doing CMF chemo.  From what I have read, working thru chemo is not that bad.  I could easily work thru chemo (CMF is not very tough).  Many women work thru the T/C etc. with little issue - some organize their schedule once they know what days are harder, so if day 9 is tough, they work backwards to decide what day of the week they should do their infusion so they can have a weekend to recover.

    Did you know that there is a stop smoking support thread?  I don't smoke, but have read that smoking will interfere with healing and chemo.  Check out that thread - it seems like those women are doing well and very supportive to each other - plus will have some great advice for you on all of the above.

    I wanted to respond because I do know how confusing and scary this ride is - once you are in treatment and thru surgery it will become easier - I promise.   It still SUCKS but at least you are in treatment, have a plan, etc. etc.

    Hang in there!

    Susan

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  • Passion43
    Passion43 Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2009

    I have been out of work for the last four months due to the side effects of chemo. I go every three weeks and for four hours get the strongest cancer chemo there is. My cancer is aggressive so the medication I am on keeps me home from work, near the restroom and hardly eating fearing it will not stay down. I have two more treatments and will probabkly not return to work until July. I am bored but look good from what my visitor friends tell me. I praise God every day for giving me strength to get up and face it. God loves you as we do so stay strong and positive.

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  • Jayne_in_UK
    Jayne_in_UK Member Posts: 517
    edited May 2009

    Deborah/Sybil

    I am having unilateral mastectomy on May 11. My BS said I will need chemo and rads. I asked how long I will be away from work and she said I should allow for 6 months. I was a bit taken aback by this, but she said that as I work with young adults I will be putting myself at risk of infection if I go back too soon. My cancer seems to be quite aggressive so my chemo probably will be too.

    I expect I will also get bored Teresa, especially as one of my favourite activities, gardening, is going to be out of the question for a while due to risk of infection.

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