Working and chemotherapy

It's different for everybody. I'm a teacher. I worked during my first two tx, but missed about a week each round. When I was there, co-workers covered for me a lot. My last 4 tx fell over summer vacation and for that I am grateful since I could barely get off the couch most days. But everyone reacts differently and many are able to work. Good luck to you.

I agree it is different for everyone and depends on your occupation/work environment. I was able to work through all 6 cycles of my chemo because I wanted to save time for surgery. I am very fortunate that I have a flexible work environment where I could work from home on the days immediately following treatments when I didn't feel the best.

I agree that everyone is different. I've had my third dense dose of A/C and worked the entire time. I just take off the day of treatment as it is 1-1/2 hrs away from home.

Also worked during dose dense AC. Had the infusion Friday, laid low over the weekend as was back to work Monday. Didn't feel great but would have felt worse just sitting home thinking about everything.

I'm still working. I just finished week 9/12 of weekly taxol treatment and will get AC after this. I have my chemo day off (Monday) and starting around week 6 the 3rd day after chemo(thursday). For some reason that day is horrible for me. I am beyond emotional, exhausted and in pain. But I'm fine the next day. I have no idea how I will react to AC but I've been saving while working now because I will be off at one point (radiation, surgery etc).

So it depends on you, the drugs they will put you on and the timing along with the type of work you do. Find out all your options in advance if you can. I know that I cannot be trusted to make a decision on Thursday about anything so I make sure people know in advance and check in on Friday to see if I still want what I wanted.

Scaredp, Hello from another chemo-worker! I wanted to work during chemo and my oncologist was very supportive. Your oncologist can help you make that happen by making sure you have an infusion schedule that is aligned with your work schedule and that your side effects are minimized with before and after meds. Most people report their worst days to be day 3-5 after the chemo infusion. That was my experience. I wasn't sick, really, just didn't feel well. As many have said, working helps you focus on something other than your cancer and it can also be important (or necessary) financially speaking. I was very fortunate that I could work from home on my "not so well" days. I think that the type of job you have, the flexibility of your employer in accommodating you, and the amount of support you have at home as well as how you individually react to the medicine will all determine if you are able to work through chemo treatment. The bottom line is that your health and well being comes first....try working; you can always call off if needed.
Good luck to you, fierce cancer killer!
MsP