immune system: working vs not working

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Cheesequake
Cheesequake Member Posts: 264
edited June 2015 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I know chemo really suppresses the immune system, so I've been concerned about working through treatment, figuring that being around an office full of people will greatly increase my chances of getting something. My bosses have already agreed to let me work from home, but if I can I'd prefer to go in to the office.

For folks who worked during treatment, did you have any issues with getting sick as a result?

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited June 2015

    If you receive Neulasta or Neupogen injections after each treatment, and your WBC responds accordingly, it should provide some protection against infection.  There is a WBC nadir, or low point, after each infusion -anywhere between the 7-14 day point I think depending on the drug combo, so you might be able to do a combo of office/home to correspond with this, as well as the few days (usually days 3-5) that most feel yucky after chemo. A lot of people handle it this way. I didn't work during chemo for two reasons - I had five surgeries in the 14 weeks between BMX and start of chemo, and I worked in a bio-hazardous environment making decisions about patients - so didn't feel that working was a good idea. I was too trashed from the back-to-back treatment.  I generally stayed home for the first week or so after treatment - but that was due to the Big D, after that I went out in public frequently and never got an opportunistic infection during chemo, or for the remainder of the year of Herceptin.  I did return to work 30 days after my last chemo.  I think what you probably will need to do is see how things go - how you feel, and how your blood counts hold up.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited June 2015

    Hi!

    During chemo, I worked at home for some of the time but went to the office 2-3 days a week (the days I was teaching). At work, I was exposed to dozens of college students, some of whom weren't too healthy. My favorite was the student who had mono and who kept visiting my office to explain why he wasn't in class. (He could have just emailed me!!!) During AC, I didn't get sick at all. Toward the very end of Taxol-Heceptin-Perjeta, I got a stomach virus, but it was from my 12 year old son, who probably picked it up at school. That virus made me ill for about three days, but I was well enough for my next infusion so it didn't throw me off too badly.

    I agree with Special-K; the Neulasta probably helped during AC! Best of luck to you!

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  • Leighrh
    Leighrh Member Posts: 317
    edited June 2015

    I think it really depends on your office environment and the seasons.  I work in a big office with lots of spaced out employees, I do not have close contact with people to much and I have worked through 4 rounds of AC and plan to continue through Taxol.  I have had weeks of dips in my white cell counts but I never got neulasta.  I have not limited myself going anywhere... I still grocery shop, go to the ballpark.. etc.... I have not been sick other than the beautiful side effects of the chemo.  :)  I agree that you should just see how it goes, work from home if you feel like it and go in on days you feel good.

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  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited June 2015

    During chemo, I took a sick day on the infusion days and worked from home the following day which was Friday. Was in the office till next infusion day. I did take a few precautions in the office:

    - washed hands as soon as got into the office and several times during the day, usually after moving around

    - stopped going to meetings but connected to all the meetings via phone

    - stopped using public transportation for commuting and drove to/from work in my car 

    Those three simple measures resulted in my being sick only once - common cold - in the fall, which I think  was unavoidable.

    I did not get Neulasta shots.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited June 2015

    I did not have a job to go to during chemo, but I did go anywhere and everywhere I wanted to (included several large 'gatherings'/events) with no issues at all. I had always 'caught' every cold going around and had a lot of major sinus infection pre chemo. Since chemo, have not had any colds and only 1 minor sinus infection in almost 6 yrs. Why - don't know other than each of us is unique and our bodies respond differently.

    I did Neulasta during the 4 DD A/C but not during 12 weekly Taxol.

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  • crs003
    crs003 Member Posts: 73
    edited June 2015


    I take a day off for my treatment, because the Benadryl causes drowsiness for most of the day, and work the other days. I work with pre-K children, but management does a good job enforcing the sick policy, so we haven't had any outbreaks. We also teach them good habits like washing hands frequently and how to cover your mouth when coughing, sneezing. I have worked there for two years so I've have been exposed to all of their germs during that time.  I think that helped build up my immune system. My favorite is getting coughed on in the face by one of my boys as he is talking to me, then covering his mouth afterwards.  So close. My WBC has been normal all through my treatment, it almost makes me a bit concerned that perhaps my treatment is not as aggressive as it should be since my counts are normal. I receive weekly Taxol. Once I start AC, I may need to use STD or reduce hours.

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