Nurses with Breast Cancer

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  • PatRN10
    PatRN10 Member Posts: 332
    edited May 2015

    tempy. That is embarrassing to our profession the way she treated you. Don't blame you at all for not wanting to go back.

    Rhody. You sound like a gem of a manager.

    Best to you both.

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  • GrammyR
    GrammyR Member Posts: 702
    edited May 2015

    inbetcha-Yes I would have to agree w/your thoughts on returning to your hospice work as ER work is both super physical and mentally tolling.I have worked both and luckily when I got diagnosed I was working a desk job. I had to go back in 6 weeks which turned out to be a week after my first chemo. It was difficult but they allowed me to do FMLA so I could take off when I got really weak. BC diagnosis alone is enough to cause super anxiety aside from worrying about going back to work. Talk it over w/a social worker , your doctor should have one associated w/the group or hospital . In retrospect I wish I had done that way sooner than when I did. Hugs.


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  • Sally1985
    Sally1985 Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2015

    Hi all,

    I've recently been diagnosed with stage 3 her2+ breast cancer with lymph involvement (dx 9/4/15) and am a midwife. Would be interested in hearing from any other health care workers and theirs experiences. I'm 29 and a mum of two young kiddies but am determined to fight this with all I have!!! Had my first dose of AC on Tuesday and am doing ok so far.


    Wishing you all strength and love!

    Keep up the fight girls,

    Sally. Xxxx

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited May 2015

    So sorry to see so many new nurse sisters join us...we dedicate our lives to caring for others, now it's time to let others take call of us...at least for a little while...(((hugs))) take care sisters... Maureen

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  • PatRN10
    PatRN10 Member Posts: 332
    edited May 2015

    Maureen totally agree with you. Had Lx today and letting family care for me this weekend!

    Sally you are so young! I am 52 but former long time OB nurse. I have a teen mom at home with 2 year old and my 87 yo. Mom. Luckily my husband and 2 other adult children help so much. We just need to start dividing what is on our plate and delegate as we can. Hang in there. You got this!

    Pat

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited May 2015

    PatRN--Lumpectomy isn't bad to recover from, as long as there aren't any complications like a seroma or hematoma.I live in Central Main--Bangor area, where abouts are you?

    Tempy--Sorry your employer isn't supportive.You may want to talk to HR, breast cancer is a disability under the ADA, the employer is actually REQUIRED to make reasonable accommodations for appointments and treatment issues.Also, ADA regs apply as of the date of diagnosis, unlike FMLA.It's really a shame how health care employers are so consistently difficult about accommodating treatment appointments and supporting nurses during treatment related side effects.

    GrammyR--I find it funny that your employer "allowed" you to do FMLA.I believe business with more than 50 employees are REQUIRED to follow FMLA regulations!

    Sally1985--my advice is to not let your treatment team know you are a nurse.I made that mistake, and got no teaching or support--when I totally broke down out of pain from serious side effects I got the "You're a nurse, we figured you didn't need any education or support" line, right after I got the "why didn't you tell us things weren't going like they were supposed to?"Because I didn't know.I work in Hospice and see burned and rotting body parts from radiation all the time, thought that was normal.

    Maureen1--we definitely do need to take care of ourselves during bc treatment, nobody else is going to.

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  • PatRN10
    PatRN10 Member Posts: 332
    edited May 2015


    Mainer, I am southern Maine Sanford area. I had my surgery yesterday in NH though. Live right on the border. That is horrible how you got no more teaching. Just because we are nurses doesn't mean we have an oncology background! I love my BS as he doesn't assume anything.

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  • Tempy
    Tempy Member Posts: 101
    edited May 2015

    Native because I work nights they I guess they assume that I'm free during the days to do all of my appointments at that time. However, I guess they don't think I need to sleep. You know that 5 letter word that nurses don't get enough of? Luckily my co-workers have gotten used to my "dark 30s" where I go into an empty room for a quick power nap on my breaks. It's crazy, although I haven't started treatment and probably won't (according to my MO) until after surgery, I've been just exhausted.

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  • PatRN10
    PatRN10 Member Posts: 332
    edited May 2015


    Tempy, as a long time night shifter I know exactly what you mean. They think sleep is optional! Hopefully you can arrange appt. right after work or late afternoon. I would ask them how they would feel going to the doctors at 2 or 3 AM ;0)

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  • Tempy
    Tempy Member Posts: 101
    edited May 2015

    PatRN, I've been pretty lucky and have gotten some of my appointments on my days off or after a night shift.

    Wondering if anyone has had their BMX/Lx, etc at the facilities they've worked at and how you feel about co-workers taking care of you post-op.

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  • PatRN10
    PatRN10 Member Posts: 332
    edited May 2015

    i think it depends on your relationship with the Co workers. I know in ob. We treat our Co workers like vips. When they come in to deliver.i know that is not always the case.

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  • AndreaC
    AndreaC Member Posts: 220
    edited May 2015

    Hi all - I work in ICU at my (small) local hospital and am being treated at the same hospital. I have been working there for 17 years and know practically everyone. So it's pretty impossible to hide the fact that I am a nurse from them! But I make it very clear that I don't know a lot about oncology and need teaching etc. I actually really like being treated there because everyone is so nice!

    I had a BMX March 26 this year and my nurses (former co-workers and friends) moved heaven and earth to get me a private room. They ended up converting the patient lounge into a private room for me and I was extremely grateful.

    I think that the only thing I would be uncomfortable with having co-workers do would be catheterize me etc. I had a catheter just once, when I had colon cancer 18 months ago - I came out of the OR with one because I had an epidural etc. I never asked who inserted it because I really did not want to know! I don't know a lot of the OR staff very well anyway! I did have nurses I know give me a bedbath - but I was so out of it on drugs I barely remember that!

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited May 2015

    Pat--You are lucky to have a good BS.Hope your surgery went well and you are recovering nicely!

    Tempy--I remember the same attitude when I was working nights.That and having no kids meant that I should be able to work any night that someone called out, or stay and cover any day shift when someone called out, or come in early.And if I had ever gotten caught sleeping, even during break, I'd've been fired on the spot.Going through all the testing and getting info about path reports and treatment options and such IS exhausting, physically and emotionally.And why should a night shift nurse need time to sleep?Sleeping is done at night, after all! Itis a crazy system.

    I would not have surgery at the hospital where I used to work, I know how the staff talks about patients and couldn't deal with that thought, and knowing I'd be expected to pretty much take care of myself.

    AudreaC--I envy you having a good experience with your in-hospital care!Getting a private room is huge.

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  • 123JustMe
    123JustMe Member Posts: 385
    edited June 2015

    *bump

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited June 2015

    (((123JustMe)))…so sorry you have to join us…looks like you are newly diagnosed…if you are like me, as a nurse, you were blindsided by this beast…it's so different to be on "this side of the cot" and being a nurse I found the doctors made assumptions that I didn't need as much information so I had to remind them that I was the patient now and needed all the same reassurance and explanation that any other patient might need…Let us know how you're doing, hang in there (((hugs))) Maureen

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  • 123JustMe
    123JustMe Member Posts: 385
    edited June 2015

    Thanks Maureen!


    This diagnosis really rocked my world and for the short time that I've been diagnosed the more complicated it gets. Hopefully things will begin to fall into place.
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  • PatRN10
    PatRN10 Member Posts: 332
    edited June 2015

    Hi 123, I have just been diagnosed for 2 months. Waiting for my oncotype results on Thursday. These boards are an incredible resource. As an OB/pedi/school nurse I did not know much about current cancer treatments but I  have learned and fast! Please keep us posted as to how you are doing.

    Pat

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  • 123JustMe
    123JustMe Member Posts: 385
    edited June 2015

    Thanks Pat. Just trying to hold on until the genetic testing is complete which will take 3 weeks. It seems weird to be seeing the surgeon and oncologists since the treatment is dependent on the results of the tests. I hope your onco score is low!
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  • PatRN10
    PatRN10 Member Posts: 332
    edited June 2015

    Just got word today score will not be available til Monday.I am going to keep MO apt Thursday as I have other questions to ask. I couldn't get in for a month so didn't want to cancel. Hope yours is low too.

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  • 123JustMe
    123JustMe Member Posts: 385
    edited June 2015
    Hi Pat,
    Hoping you have your Oncotype DX.
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  • PatRN10
    PatRN10 Member Posts: 332
    edited June 2015

    nope still no results! I called customer service the second specimen is processing and under "pathology review". Not sure what this means.

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  • 123JustMe
    123JustMe Member Posts: 385
    edited June 2015
    Pat,
    I am so sorry that this seems to be taking so long! Hope you get the results very soon. Waiting is awful!
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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited June 2015

    Pat--have you called them back and asked what "under pathology review" means and when to expect the results?


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  • GrammyR
    GrammyR Member Posts: 702
    edited June 2015

    PatRN- I know how frustrating waiting for test results is. No way to speed it up I'm afraid. This type if testing was not even available back in 2005 when I was first diagnosed. Just wanting to get treatment started and finished the only thing on your mind likely. Just take time to decide best way to go. When in doubt get another opinion too.


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  • PatRN10
    PatRN10 Member Posts: 332
    edited June 2015

    Thanks ladies for all the good wishes ! I called them twice but they aren't specific. I don't think they are allowed to be.hopefully by weeks end. Will keep you posted.

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