Calling All Healthcare Workers

Hello! I also work in healthcare, and was able to keep working through treatment. I took a little over a week off after my lumpectomy (and in hindsight wish I had taken more), but was able to work through radiation though my work days were a little chopped up. I have a supportive clinic-type environment with a flexible work schedule, so that helped me a lot. If I had ended up getting chemo, I would have taken FMLA leave.

I found it hard being the patient. I think we're trained to notice certain things. This became a problem for me when I'd notice something that wasn't quite as it should be. There were certain situations where my patient care (or cleanliness of the facility) wasn't quite up to par, and that was awkward for me.

I also go to doctor's appointments with a written list. You have to...no questions no answers. And they charge insurance a LOT of money for those appointments. The least they can do is give you adequate time!

I was iriginally diagnosed about 5 years ago and took fmla through surgeries and some chemo. I worked during radiation. It was the sickest i ever been. Now 5 years later Im trying to work after met duagnosis with taken intermittent fmla and only out for treatment or dr appointments. Its very stressful trying to balance my job responsibilities with taking care of myself. I also get a little ill when patients come to ER for issues that have been going on for a month that they should see there primary doctor for and they complain about how long it takes. Emergencies such as stroke or heart attacks come first. Its also hard when you are sicker then the patient. I hate when people demand you move them from stretcher to table and then an hour later they walk out of Er happy for their pain meds. So I pray that Im a good payient caregiver today and pray for understanding

Brneyegrl66--Working through radiation was completely do-able, physically. I almost went out on FMLA, but that's because I ended up getting an allergic reaction to the radiation lotion they had me using---I was completely miserable for a couple of weeks to the point of asking for sedatives, but an emergency dermatology appointment quickly took care of it. Had my skin not decided to go bonkers with allergy, the radiation side effects would have been minimal. I had minor nausea like morning sickness, and a scratchy throat. Fatigue by most Fridays but it got better quickly over the weekend. I did go bra-less under my scrubs at work for a couple of weeks, but that was ok even though it was weird. I couldn't stand my bra straps rubbing against my allergic skin.

I'm retired now but keeping up my license in case I want to pick up a few hours behind an Rx counter again sometime. I took 4 months of FMLA during treatment then went back to work for a year and a half.

The worst problem I had was after lymphedema started. Could not figure out how to performing proper hand washing while wearing compression garments - tried a cotton glove over a gauntlet to minimize 'contamination' but then my fingers would swell. Also carried a pocket UV sanitizer designed to use on grocery cart handles, etc. however was never sure it was doing an adequate job on soft surfaces.

Thanks to all you nurses who soldier on!

Hello! I am sorry to hear you have joined the club. I am 36 years old and was diagnosed with triple positive cancer in September 2016. I have had fertility preservation, TCHP chemo, surgery and I have now started radiation. I am a nurse in an outpatient facility and work everywhere from primary care, peds, OB/gyn, and have a background in gyn Onc. I really wanted to work throughout treatment, but my oncologist highly recommended that I not work. Not because of the physical aspects of the job, but due to the emotional fatigue. As much as I love my job, caring for patients can take a lot. Looking back, I am glad I didn't work though chemo. It allowed me to focus on taking care of myself. I did work through fertility preservation and that was tough. I have been off work since October. I do desperately miss working, but radiation is about an hour away in no traffic and I think I have just accepted that I won't return until treatment is done.

I also struggle with the privacy portion. I have to get labs at the facility where I work and every time I go in, I see at least 5 people I know. I used to feel obligated to greet everyone. Overtime, I learned to let that go. The building where I work has about 100 employees. They all know me very well since I float to different departments. When I was first diagnosed I wanted to keep it a secret, but it was too exhausting to try and keep that up. Everyone always asked why I wasn't working. I ended up telling everyone. They have been really supportive. Now I don't know what I would have done without the support of my work family. They even started a fund that really helped ease the financial burden.

As far as the research goes, I completely understand. For me, the technical information is far easier to digest and I agree it allows me to separate my emotions. I was the same way with my questions. When I was first diagnosed, I created a spread sheet and coded each question by who I needed to ask it to (MO, PS, BS etc). I think it helped to feel like I was doing something. Now I make a list of a few questions, but I wait until the doctor is done and then ask if my questions weren't answered. I also record every appointment so I can be present in the appointment and not worry about having to remember everything.

I do feel lucky that I have this background. I have people that I know and trust to recommend good providers. I also have people to ask when I want to make sure I am getting the right treatment.

The hardest part in all of this is remembering I am the patient. It is hard to turn off the caregiving portion of myself.

Okay, long rant done. Know you will get through this. Allow yourself to be taken care of.

I am a NP working in a community health centre, so not overly active. Have about 700 patients, caring from birth to death.

 I like everyone else had difficulty telling my coworkers, hell everyone I know. Would cry as I told them, then got to a point where I asked some of them to tell everyone else as I no longer could face doing it. Even had hard time telling my sister- texted her and told her I couldn't talk to her that day but then I did the next day. found it easier to write it to people then to face to face tell them.  Hardest thing I ever had to do ; not to mention handling this cancer thing...I am working right up until surgery may 18, then will be off for at least 6 months (hoping all goes well and therefore wont be longer) Have told some of my patients but keep it very light, telling them "i have a bit of breast cancer and going to get them hacked off and upgraded) find they take it well when I make light of it.  Hate anyone giving me the sympathy look. Many are wondering when they can be booked back to see me!  Glad they are saying things like this  ....

Nice to meet up with other health care professionals, we are a class on our own. In fact, we are not supposed to be here, this was not to happen to us! (in my crazy mind)  Good to know the lingo bu also So hard knowing too much and what can happen, almost wish I was ignorant to it all.....blissfully.....sigh

I made sure everyone in my clinic knew, though had some of my closer coworkers pass it on because I didn't have the emotional energy. I realized it was easier for everyone to know so if I was walking around with a miserable face at least people would know it had nothing to do with them.

Since I worked at a community mental health center as a therapist and crisis worker, I did not tell any of my patients that I had breast cancer. I did tell them that I had to deal with some health issues when I was out of the office the first time, and just reiterated that on subsequent times OOO. They were worried about me, but actually respected my boundary (I didn't share really anything personal with patients) and were relieved and satisfied when I told them I would be fine. They really were there to work on their own issues/problems and needed to have that space be about them. It helped me as well, in that I could focus very intently and exclusively on their problems for an hour, instead of my own The staff knew, and I had amazing support from them, but we were used to keeping personal info to ourselves.

And then there's this person:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/29/ca...

The scandal surrounding the rogue surgeon Ian Paterson is likely to widen after lawyers revealed on Saturday that they are receiving allegations implicating other hospitals and specialists.

On Friday, Paterson, 59, a consultant surgeon, was found guilty of carrying out needless breast operations in a scandal that has forced the NHS to pay almost £10m in compensation to more than 250 of his patients, though the true number of victims could eventually run into the thousands.

Paterson was convicted of 17 counts of wounding with intent, relating to nine women and one man in the West Midlands, with the jury at Nottingham crown court deciding the surgeon carried out "extensive, life-changing operations for no medically justifiable reason" on them between 1997 and 2011.

Hi Tpralph,

Yes, definitely. Knowing to much and being aware of all the worst case scenarios just makes it worse. That combined with Google...yes, the anxiety is real. There is an anxiety thread in one of the other forums that is really good. There are a lot of us out there I think. :-)

I go back for scans in October, already dreading it...

Hi. New to this forum. Shifting gears a little.... Wondering... for those who worked while undergoing Tx, especially nurses, did anyone ... do anything... take steps to avoid exposure to infectious patients? (Unrelated to the cancer) I have been told that I need to change positions within my organization (restructuring). I had applied for a couple of spots where I could be exposed to infectious patients. I was actually kinda excited about those jobs.... What crappy luck. Of course, I'm also worried about fatigue with 12 hour shifts. Thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks.