Teaching during chemotherapy

I taught through chemo (middle school special education....lots of germs there too). I would have my infusion on Friday & be back to work on Monday. I had Neulasta shots so didn't have to worry that much about infections etc., if you are thinking of working, you definitely want the shot. I did wash my hands like crazy & skipped out on some of the long after school meetings, scheduled different levels of activities around the days I knew I'd feel better or worse. It was summer when I did radiation, so I didn't have to plan around that (although I've had friends who have taught through that too, getting the earliest or latest appointments of the day). You just have to see how it goes. Some people truly can't keep working, but I felt like it helped me a lot physiologically to have something else to focus on. Plus I felt very hyper during chemo (steriods?) and would have been sitting home climbing the walls if I hadn't been working. If you do keep working, you will want to let everything else slide; hire a cleaning lady, get your co-workers, friends, family to bring meals a couple times a week, run errands etc. Best of luck!

I lecture in college and I canceled my classes. I did all I could to avoid any germs. Did not travel either and avoided stores as much as possible. My husband, roommate and fellow labmates washed hands like crazy and did hand gel when out and about.



I hope it can work for you to take time off if you choose to do so, do you have any coverage for that long?



Good luck and hugs to you. Sorry you are faced with this decision.

I'm starting chemo on July 2.  I'm not supposed to be done until October 8.  I teach in a K/1 class.  Honestly - I haven't even thought about not starting the school year.  I am now.  I can't imagine having the someone else atart the school year for me.  i'll be asking my Doc about it today - thanks for bringing that to my atention.

Annie, you will be able to tell how you'll feel after the first or second treatment. Everyone is so different. I taught through 4 rounds of AC and found it very doable. Another friend with the same treatment stayed home, slept the whole time and absolutely could not have taught. I've known people who have taught part time through chemo, friends who stayed home during AC but felt good and came back to work during Taxol. I had a friend who amazingly did chemo all last year, taught the whole time and sailed through it. So let your body be your guide.

Lyn - I teach in a small alternative High School.  I took 6 weeks off to recover from BMX/DIEP reconstruction, but worked during chemo and rads.   Most of my classes are individualized, which means I work one to one with most of my students.  I was sneezed on and coughed on a daily basis. I am also the teacher who students come to when they are feeling sick.  They love whining to me for some reason?! I managed to avoid getting sick by being hyper-vigilant and letting my students know that I should not get sick.  I made certain to keep my own set of everything (pens, pencils, calculators tissues etc) away from the students and I used hand sanitizer on a regular basis.

My children are older and mostly on their own.  I did not need to care for anyone at home.  That was a big plus, all of my energy was consumed just getting through each day.

I also received a nuelasta shot after each infusion.  I took good care of myself and tried to sleep more than usual.  I did end up in the ER twice for fevers.  They quickly resolved themselves and I was fine.

I have to say that keeping busy really helped me regain my sanity.  I was not very happy sitting at home thinking about how much my life had changed.  I had to go back to work!  I took off on Fridays for my infusion (AC dd, Taxoll dd) and was back to work by Monday.  I had an understanding with my principal that I might need to take more time off (I never did though).  I was given Emmend with each TX and a whole pile of other meds to take if needed for pain, nausea, heartburn, or constipation.  I was very fortunate to work with peers who understood what I was going through and tried to help out by covering classes if I needed a quick break.

Each person and situation is different, so you might experience something completely different.

I teach in college, so not quite the same thing in terms of maintaining energy in front of a classroom for as long as you K-12 students (my hats off to you!), but I am also getting scared about the germ bath I work in. I was sick 3 times this past semester alone. I'm already planning on installing a hand sanitizer next to the door that opens to the office suite I'm in.

I plan to meet with my department chair after I start chemo to talk about how I'm handling it so she will know if I can do my classroom in the fall or will need someone to take over throughout the treatments, which will go to near the end of the semester.

Couple other things: if you haven't talked to your principal yet, do so right away so that he/she is in the loop. If you have a favorite sub, get 'dibs' on him/her for the days you know you'll be gone. That will make for better continuity. If you are the head of any committees, tell them you can't do it next year. See if you can get out of recess duty, lunchroom duty, ('other duties as to be assigned' is how it's worded on our contract!), and make sure they know you may have to skip some of the many and endless meetings, depending on how you feel.