Working during chemo

Hi. I'm not really "young" as I'm 47 but I feel young. I had to take a leave from my teaching position for chemo. There is no way I could be working during. I guess it depends on the job, but you are not a wimp at all. This is toxic stuff and it effects each person differently but don't be hard on yourself. It's tough to go through this.

I'm 46 and work for a university as an oncology clinical trial coordinator - full-time job. My employer has been very good about accommodations for me during chemo. We have a VERY generous sick leave allowance but since we are all employed on 1 year contracts I am nervous about taking too much time off and not having my contract renewed. Part of my accommodations is that I am all set up to be able to work from home. This works because I can basically do everything except hardcopy filing.



I've been doing FEC 3 weekly on a Thursday afternoon. I have worked the Thursdays until I need to leave to walk up to my cancer centre (attached to the same university). Then I have either taken Friday as sick leave or once I did manage to work a half day from home. Then I've taken the Monday and Tuesday as sick leave, worked from home at least for the Wednesday and then gone back into the actual office fornthe rest of the week and the following days until the next treatment.



So I've had on average 3 days off each cycle. Bit worried about starting weekly Taxol next week though. I have organised for the infusions to be Friday afternoons and am hoping that it is more tolerable like everyone says and that I'll be able to work from home on Mondays and then be back in the office from Tuesdays...



What sort of position do you have? Is it office based?



Jenn

Chemo knocks everyone done no matter how strong you are. I was up to a week off before my last chemo. Don't expect too much of yourself! It will drive you crazy if you do. It is normal to take time off. Some people take 6 months off. If we were smart enough to have a good disability policy we would be able to cash in. So, if the insurance companies can see it as a disability, then you should be able to also.

Sorry you have to deal with this crappy horrid disease, but glad you found your way here.

I was 30 and working full-time when I had the "red devil", after completing  I would take the day of the treatment off.  I was lucky to have a very understanding bosses (I was like the 5th to have breast cancer in the department) and my schedule was flexiable. 

I didn't use an alarm clock, I let my body tell me when to get up, when to rest, etc, the biggest thing was making sure I had energy meaning always have a snack in reach distance along with gatorade.   I don't have any kids by high demand job that is year around, 7 day a week with 14+ hour days.  Needless to say I was lucky to  make to the 8 hour mark. I really didn't have SE except for sinus infections biggest thing is learn to listen to your body.