Nurses with Breast Cancer

So to update, I did make arrangements to return to hospice. I actually squeezed in two more weeks of work before my surgery. Still no return date yet. So of course now here is another issue. I deal mainly with cancer patients. I admit two per day to home hospice. I LOVE my job and love being able to bring help to families. I consider it an honor to spend any time with them. HOWEVER, those two weeks I went back after I had been diagnosed I was a wreck. Every cancer patient I had I said, "that could be me"....I could not separate myself from my job. Wondering if this will get better and wondering if there are other nurses out there in similar situations?

Hi!

Wondering if this forum is still active for nurses with BC.

I'm a TCM/UR nurse (previously an ER nurse) & I'm trying to find out how surgery & subsequent

treatment has impacted anyone else's ability to work & support themselves;

I'm single & self-supporting.

thanks so much!

daynar- My surgeon took me off work for a month following my BMX without recon. I didn't have chemo. I did do RADs & scheduled myself to work only weekends(12hr shifts) during that time. I'm on Tamoxifen which is causing me GYN issues & have been able to schedule outpatient surgeries around my work schedule. I actually really enjoyed my month off following my BMX. One day I took a walk with my camera & came across this bobcat family. I could have gone back to work sooner but like I said, I was enjoying my time off. I walked everyday until I could run again. Hope you're healing & doing well.

(((Daynar))) so sorry you have to join us...several nurses at my hospital were diagnosed in the last 3 years, including me...I hate this disease:( it has attacked so many hard working, wonderful people...I took off 2 weeks after my first surgery and then worked thru chemo. My 2nd surgery was BMX with immediate implants (I didn't want  TE's) I took 3 weeks off then came back on light duty to let my pec muscles heal. If you can do a less physically demanding job like UR that will make it easier. I think one of the toughest things for nurses is taking care of ourselves but this is a time when you really need to...let us know how you're doing...(((Hugs))) Maureen

Hi daynar, I agree that we are sorry you have to join us! When I was diagnosed I went for BMX without reconstruction. I did have some post-surgical complications but was back to work in about three weeks. I am a DON in an assisted living facility but do sometimes have to do some lifting. I made sure that if someone needed to be lifted (after a fall, etc., that I had help). I later found out that I had to go through chemo. I was fortunate that my employer is very caring and they were very flexible about my schedule. I scheduled my chemo treatments on Fridays so I could have the weekend to recover. I did have three hospitalizations for febrile neutropenia. As Maureen said, nurses have a very hard time taking care of themselves. I found that I did not do a good job of that while I was in treatment, but I think I am doing a little bit better at it now. I see that you were diagnosed in November? Did you have any kind of surgery yet or are you waiting to decide what to do? Hugs to you XOXO

Martha

hey dayna,sorry you had to join us, i had lumpectomies so was off 48hrs, just had a tah/bso in november ,the lovely tamoxifen contributed to my decision and need f for surgeryand was off 5 weeks . we don't have light duty on my floor a very busy pcu . evne if you get hurt at work ,your shipped elsewhere so worked in a gift shop for 3 months when i hurt my shoulder in work

I am so happy to have found this forum! I too am an RN...I work in ICU at a small hospital. I had colon cancer with a hemicolectomy in Dec. 2013, followed by 6 months of chemo. I went back to work halfway through my chemo because I felt pretty good...the chemo was oral (capacetibine). But when I went back I went casual, so that I could pick and choose shifts and I worked hardly any nights. I figured that would be better for my health and prevent any more cancer. Right? WRONG! I had a screening mammogram in early Dec. - sure enough, tumour was detected in my left breast. During a screening CT a second tumour was discovered in my right breast...so I am scheduled for a BMX in (gulp!) nine days - March 26.

Since my hospital is small, our oncologist also works as a general internist and is on-call often in the ICU, so I know him well. In fact, he is a neighbour! I know my surgeon well also, and most of the nursing staff. With my colon cancer I did not mind at all being a patient there. Everyone treats staff really well. While I am not thrilled with this latest diagnosis, I am glad to be in the hands of such knowledgeable, caring people. I am going to be off work at least 9 months because I will need intense chemo and radiation, and I will miss work. But I will still be going there for treatments, so I will see my work friends anyway! I will miss the patients though, and that feeling you get when you make a positive difference in someone's life.

Andrea

Andrea c: did you file for FMLA..

Thanks for all the support! I often tell people that nurses are the most awesome group of people...NativeMainer - I haven't seen the oncologist yet, I will discuss the BCRA testing with him/her. (My initial contact will be at the B.C. Cancer Agency in Victoria, after which I will be handed over to my local oncologist). I definitely want to have the testing done.

Beatmon: what is FMLA? I am Canadian, if that makes a difference.

Akitagirl: I was very interested to read about Cowden's Syndrome. My grandmother died of endometrial cancer and my father died of melanoma. I will definitely ask the oncologist about being tested for that!! I have a daughter and now a baby granddaughter...I need to know as much as I can for their sakes!

Wow...this place has a wealth of information!

Andrea

Ah. I am not sure if there is anything like FMLA up here. I am on paid sick leave, which will last about 5 months. After that it's paid vacation for a few weeks, and my health authority offers long-term disability after that. I am lucky to have such great benefits...and to have a husband who works full time too.

LOL!

Another nurse here and wish I could say my employer has been supportive. I just started this job in February of this year (12 hour nights on a surgical floor) so don't qualify for FMLA yet. Short-term disability is on the horizon as soon as I can sign up for it during the benefit fair in July. When I got the dx, my manager said that she would work around my doctor's appointments, etc but we're so short staffed from people leaving that flexibility is an issue as I'm still low-person on the proverbial totem pole.

A lot of other people are picking up extra shifts and I would as the extra $$ would be nice but I've been so overwhelmed and exhausted I just do my 3 days per week. That and there are some weeks I have a lot of appointments and I had another biopsy last week this time on the right side. There's new people starting so hopefully once they get on their feet and running things will get a bit smoother.

Rhody I'm leaning heavily towards BMX with immediate reconstruction (I hate being put under as I have a difficult time coming back out). Just have to wait until sometime in July/August until I can get signed up for STD. Saw the MO this past Monday and see the PS on the 27th with a return visit to the BS on the 29th. I worked oncology for years and it's so different being on the opposite side of things.

My husband goes to all of the appointments and does not have a medical background - although he's learning quickly. The doctors talk to me knowing my background but then (at least with the second facility) take the time to explain everything to him and answer his questions which is great because I've been relatively overwhelmed and just exhausted so have a tendency to forget stuffs. When I was going in for the ultrasound guided biopsy at the initial facility (my BS wanted me to complete work-up where it started rather than shift mid-stream) the nurse navigator came up to me, handed me a big book of BC treatment and walked away. If I didn't have the education I have and all I was given for support is that one book .. well let's just say I was more than a little disappointed and we're not going back.