working full time during chemo--how did you manage?

Hi!

I worked full time during chemo. This was possible for me because I'm a college professor who only needed to be in class during two days of the week. Also, I talked to my boss and he agreed to reduce some of my service responsibilities. So, I just focused on my teaching and let my committee work slide. I also worked at home a lot, which helped.

Could I have done a 9:00 -- 5:00 desk job? I guess so, if I'd had more help with child care (I have sons with autism who can be difficult to manage). I was also lucky to have an office with a door. If I didn't want to deal with people, I could just close my door!

Best wishes, and I hope you don't need chemo!

I worked full time during chemo (middle school teacher). I did 4 rounds of AC, dose dense, two weeks apart. I would do infusions on Friday morning, have the weekend to veg out & be back to work on Monday. Prior to starting chemo, do as many of the upcoming projects etc, as you can, get out of any optional commitments, stock up on groceries, make & freeze food (especially if you have a family), think about hiring a cleaning lady (if you have friends who would be willing to bring in some meals, clean your house, whatever.....take them up on it!). In other words, make your life as simple as possible; also stay hydrated, take anti-nausea medications as directed & try to get a little exercise (which will actually help with fatigue. Chemo (and other treatments) affects each person differently, so be aware of that; but plan for the best.

I have a desk job and my company allowed me to work from home a few days after my injections. I got Wednesday injections early in the morning. I would work from the chemo lab. I worked the rest of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from home. My SEs normally started Friday night and then by Sunday, I was back to normal. I would work back in my office until the next injection. I did not miss any work during AC. My first Taxol injection day was very long, 8 hours. So I took a few hours off that day. It's totally feasible to work and I actually think it's good for you. If you're busy concentrating on work, you're not thinking about SEs. You can do this!!

Hello, 9Lives70

If you have the option to work from home (WFH), you should be good to go.  Any reasonable employer will accommodate WFH rather than look for a new employee.  With all of the conference call and screen sharing options these days, WFH is an easy option.

I was wondering if anyone can share their stories about their first day back, sans hair?  I've have had 2 rounds of AC chemo and have been WFH since during that time.  (I normally WFH 2 - 3 weeks each month.)  My hair is basically gone now and I'm dreading going back in to the office.  I bought a wig, but I don't feel comfortable with it.  (My original hair was always quite short and of mixed raced.  There are no wigs that truly match.)  I have only told a few managers about my BC because they needed to know why I was missing so much work for all of the appointments.  I don't know how to face the rest of the office.  Go with the wig, and hope they don't notice?  Stick with the turbans and scarves and answer questions as they come up?  I'm generally a private person.  I didn't intend to tell anyone unless absolutely necessary. 

Does anyone have some inspiration to help me get through that first day back?

Midwest Laura, I also used hats and scarves, no wigs. The good news, as was true for me, this is a good time of year to have a hat. I had only told a few people (my boss and folks I supervise immediately). Whether they told others or not, I don't know, but only one person actually asked me about the hats, and if I was ok...my response: "thanks for your concern, I am fine" (with a smile). Or consider even just "Thanks for your concern". Repeat as necessary. I am private also....yes the first day back was hard, but I got used to it. Eventually of course more folks figured it out,but they were smart enough to realize that if I hadn't mentioned it, I didn't want to talk about it.

Six months later, a colleague I feel close to, came in my office, closed the door, and said he'd like to discuss personal issues with me because he needed some advice and he thought I could help. Turns out he was facing chemo for prostate cancer and wanted to hear my experiences and thoughts about working through it....He didn't even say, "I know you have had chemo" it was more like "well, I figured you could help me out...and I really need help"...Anyway, talking to him was easy. It felt good, because he wasn't just being morbidly curious, he wanted and needed information. He was the ONLY person at work I ever discussed details with....

It isn't fun, but you can do this!

Hugs!

Octogirl

I wore a wig. Very few people knew that it was a wig (a friend who knew I did chemo but whom I hadn't seen for a long time commented when we got together "At least you didn't lose your hair"). You might to get one totally different from your current hairstyle. It will make the fact that it's a wig less obvious (those not in the know can think you just went wild). Also, you might want to get one in a short style so that it will be a less noticeable transition when you go back to your real hair (I teach & a kind of funny story.....my wig matched my naturally straight hair, but my hair came back in super, super curly. The first day I ditched the wig, one of my very fashion conscious 7th grade girls asked, "WHAT did you do to your hair?" I laughed, threw my hands up in the air and said, "Don't even ask!" And that was the end of that.

Everybody handles it differently and I admire people who can 'go commando' but I really, really couldn't deal with people asking me questions (or worse yet, looking at me sympathetically). I think for me, wearing the wig was one way to protect my mental health. I just wanted things to be as normal as possible and for people to treat me as normally as possible too. I liked it that nobody knew what I was dealing with unless I chose to tell them. It took me a long time to reflect on and work through all my emotions before I was able to talk about it in any (somewhat) objective way at all.

ML, glad this discussion was helpful...but remember that it isn't 'worrying about nothing' and be kind to yourself!

Sending hugs!

Octogirl

9lives- I have a desk job, 27 years with my current employer and a boatload of sick leave. I don't have the option of working from home. I worked half time through chemo. I took chemo day and the next 5 days off, then worked 4-6 hours per day for the next few days, then full time until chemo day rolled around. Did I need all of hat time off? Probably not. Could I have worked more? Absolutely. On the other hand, as one of our HR folks asked me-what was I saving that sick leave for if not this?? I decided to be kind to myself and take some time. As far as letting people at work know, I told my direct management when I was diagnosed, but asked them to keep it close (which they did). When I had to go through chemo, I sent an email to my staff telling them my diagnosis and asking them to keep their distance if they were sick. My experience was quite positive. People were supportive, but not coddling.

It's a bit of an old thread but I wanted to chime in. I wanted to be one of those "I worked during chemo" people like my great aunt was, because I think that's impressive and it's not like I don't need the money, but I don't have a desk job or constant access to a restroom, and with my other health issues and some chemo complications, I just couldn't do it. Twice I went out because I thought I was fine and ended up nearly collapsing and had to call for a ride home. Despite my other disability, I walk a lot but during chemo week, flat surfaces feel like hills and a block feels a mile. I thought maybe I could get some hours in the week before my infusion but I would need clearance from my doctor. I had an acute onset side effect a month out from my last infusion that showed up after I exerted myself and my bone marrow is having a hard time keeping up and given my work I doubt my doctor would clear me and she would probably be right not to.

The spirit is willing but the body can't do it.