Did you work through chemo?

Hi Autum1031,

I am working through mine. I do my treatments on Thursdays. My first treatment I took 2 PTO days (Thursday and Friday) and worked the next week. I go into the office. My MO said most people don't work - but I am with you - my job is very important to me as well and I have not spouse to lean on.

I used 4 weeks of FMLA when I did my surgery and was worried about running out if I was unable to work. I did pretty well with treatment 1 and am hoping I will do the same with the remaining. I am a Financial Controller and I am not set up to work from home. My employer is being very accommodating. I am hoping to go in tomorrow for at least 1/2 so I don't have to use another PTO day.

I think everyone's situation is different and it will vary case-by-case.

I hope the best for you and good luck!

Sue

I taught through chemo. I did dose dense (with a Neulasta shot, so I didn't have to worry about getting an infection from the germy kids). I'd have my infusion on Friday, lie low over the weekend & was back to school on Monday. Everyone is different, and you won't know how you will react until you do it, but my advice is to plan to carry on as normal and adjust down from there as needed. (I did let everything else go; hired a housekeeper, accepted all offers of help....especially those to bring food, and dropped out of an extra commitments (other than the things I actually wanted to do). Best of luck!

Do look into the Neulasta shots 24 hours after each chemo. It made a big difference in my attitude towards being around anyone - let alone kids.

I worked at home through chemotherapy. I'm a computer (software) programmer. My department was very flexible that way. We work in cubicles, and my manager understood my concerns about catching any airborne viruses. I did the whole FMLA thing (just for job protection) and only took off 1 day a week (infusion day). Most of it went to my PTO. I started in December and didn't have a whole lot of PTO left. I was able to get 5 days donated to me for that month (just in case I needed it). I only used 3 of them. 

I had my infusions on Friday so that I could rest up on the weekend. I would still be weak on Monday & Tuesday. I'd start to feel better on Wednesday. I was actually happy about it. It kept my mind going. The chemo fog made me forget a couple of conference calls here and there, but everyone was understanding. I didn't go back into the office until the day I started radiation therapy. I haven't been sick at all through treatment. I'm still taking Herceptin every 3 weeks, but I do that on Thursday now. Everyone in our department works from home 1 day a week. My work at home day is Friday.

My only suggestion would be to get the flu shot prior to chemo. Neulasta sounds like a good option too. I fortunately did not need it.

Hope this helps in your decision. It's all quite a journey.

I worked all through chemo, did Neulasta so never became compromised. Did chemo on either Wednesday or Thursday (can't remember). I didn't do Friday chemo because I wanted to be able to go to oncologists office next day if anything needed to be addressed. The dexamethasone steroid kept me going for a couple of days after chemo and weekend was more down, but then recovered by Monday. The doctor loaded me up on chemo day wiith anti-nausea medication and Benadryl so I never got nausea. If you do Neulasta, taken Claritin two days before and 3-4 days after, it really works. Regular Claritin, not the DM version.

Stay on top of pooping and take stool softeners, laxatives, magnesium, whatever works. That's probably the number one thing I have said to people. And try to eat protein, helps body repair and recover

Work actually kept me sane during chemo, helped me feel more normal.

Best of luck!

I just did my first dose of AC on Wednesday; I am very tired. I am not getting back to calls/emails/texts as quickly as I'd like to and I know people are worried about me.  I did work half day Thursday; 3/4 day on Friday. I did feel foggy to some degree. 

I haven't figured out how to get started in the morning.  I don't normally wear makeup but I want to start, in advance of losing my hair.  I think that I will feel better doing that. So, I'm still trying to manage my time effectively: doing makeup, hair, etc.

I had the automatic nuelasta on Thursday evening; I started Claritin preemptively and am still continuing. Felt small palpitation 2x, no bone aches, as of yet.

I have minor nausea; I was prescribed a medication for N/V that is an anti-psychotic and it makes me extremely tired; I may try to use this in the evening as a sleep aid!

I had a cup of kratom tea today and it definitely increased my energy (actually feel normal for about 2 hours). I realize it can be addictive if overused but, I don't really care too much, right now.

That's my two cents...

Eve

For nausea, I was told small bits of stuff throughout the day, it is better if your stomach isn't empty. Even if it is just crackers and some broth, or something. Also, I was told protein helps you recover faster, rebuilding what chemo takes out of you. Having said that, cookies were absolutely impossible to refuse! There will probably be an August chemo forum, highly recommend to join that so you can have a support group that is going through chemo at the same time you are. I was part of the March 2015 chemo forum, and the women I "met" there are now my sisters and very dear.

I worked thru treatment   Had chemo on Friday and chilled during the weekend  Never had neulesta -but work in a very small business   Working kept me sane  and not thinking about cancer 24/7   It had to do with my mental health more than anything

I've been able to work thru mine for the most part. My infusions were on Fridays, and I was at work on Monday until this last one. My feet and lower legs were very swollen this last week, so Saturday I kept my legs elevated. Sunday I slept most of the day, which was new, and I've been home today with my legs elevated, and they're nearly back to normal. I'll go in tomorrow, and stay as long as I don't have much swelling. I've got some stuff I have to get done this week, so I may have to figure out how to work with my legs elevated

I also worked through chemo...and would do so again under the same circumstances. I had a day job with great sick leave and a very flexible boss and co-workers (I've since retired). My infusion days were Wednesday, every three weeks. I generally took Wednesday as a sick day and worked from home Thursday of infusion week, back in the office on Friday, and while I didn't take any calls I will admit that yes, I answered work email during infusion....I didn't worry about catching 'bugs' (though I washed my hands frequently and had nuepogen shots, and my counts stayed in normal range), but then, my chemo was really before cold and flu season (it was in the fall). I even traveled for work twice during chemo; once was just a short day trip; when I had an important three day conference three hours drive away that would have been hard to miss, the day after an infusion, I went, but had hubby drive me and come along just in case, after making sure that the conference hotel had a fridge for my nuepogen shots (taken for five days after each infusion; that is the other reason I brought hubby along: he did a great job of giving me the shots, I couldn't have done it myself. It wasn't hardship duty for him, the conference was at a lovely locale by the ocean). I did fine at the meeting, including making several presentations, just got tired at night and skipped the networking around the bar.

When I started chemo, my MO told me he wanted me to live 'as normally as possible', and encouraged me to keep working if I felt up to it. He also encouraged me to exercise through chemo; best advice I got. Staying active really helped.

A note about the steroids: yeah, they gave me energy, but for me at least I found that while I thought I got a lot accomplished while on them, when I checked my work the following week I usually redid it. Also, co-workers told me I talked a whole lot :-) So, in truth, I wasn't very productive on them. I had a real love/hate relationship with those steroids. (Never got nauseated except one time when I ate a large serving of very, very spicy dan dan noodles after an infusion. probably a mistake though they tasted good going down.)

Hello All:

I'm trying to distract myself since the port is going in later this morning. Last night I had to stop myself from buying a couple of lace front wigs online. Not that I don't plan on buying at least one eventually, but cautious me is thinking how to get reimbursed by insurance. I spoke with the powers that be and they said that they cover wigs for up to 1k/year, but needed a doctor's RX, etc. I ran by a couple of codes and of course they said that they didn't cover "that". In my mind I was thinking (Make up your mind!!! BCBS). It turned out that the reps I have spoken to so far A) bless them, haven't gone through chemo and haven't been given a clue how to talk with compassion when giving them the (wrong?) bad news that it's not covered since they don't have the information in the first place.

At least I can wear a mask at work when it comes time. The last fellow co-worker who wore one a couple of years ago (because she had the flu and didn't want to get everyone sick...and couldn't get someone to cover her shift, mind you), almost got tip-lined to the powers that shall not be named. How a surgical mask can be construed as something else while you're wearing a white uniform jacket, I'll never know.

But, I'm sorry, I feel like I need a wig or two. I don't wear makeup and haven't since 2007, just a dab if need be on the odd blemish (blemishes after 45?). So, I don't know if it's a good idea to buy the wig before getting a prescription. The wig place that I have in mind does take exchanges and returns if not used (just tried on real quick to see if it fits is OK). The local places are scams and possibly worse, if that's possible. The one that a doctor recommended to me is an example of you buy it, you keep it. They make sure to alter the wig for you (doing you a favor of cutting it to your liking, etc.) so that the wig can't be returned, ever. I wasn't born yesterday. So I'm not going to be able to just try one on. I even looked up my local chapter(s) for Look Good Feel Better and they have meetings once a month, most of which have been cancelled. Other local meetings where you might swap stories all happen to take place during my work hours. I'll have to see if I can switch shifts with someone once I get started..

You all, this website, is pretty much all I have for right now for this kind of thing. My sweet husband is already getting a bit exhausted. I told him what the plan was weeks ago and put my schedule up for him to see (what and when) and bless him, he thought my surgery today was for a lumpectomy, not the port. FYI, 6 rounds of chemo first, then LX (lumpectomy?), hopefully.

Anyway, today it's going to be the PORT, sit around until my appointment with a dietician, followed immediately by the chemo education 1 on 2 at the Cancer wing/building. My hubby is going to race home from work, let the pooch out, then drive on up to the hospital for that 1 hour edu with me. Love him! .... and you!

Hi sweetp6217,

Doesn't your local ACS chapter give you a wig to wear? I know the one in Tampa does that. They have a lot to choose from. I was told by the nurse at my MO's office to check them out first before spending a ton of money at the wig stores. They'll help you with trying on different wigs to see which one is right for you. My hubby was with me, and it was a hoot of a session. We laughed a lot! One of the wigs made me look like Joan Jett (her rock style from the 80's).

I ended up spending more money anyway for a lace front wig, and it wasn't even human hair. My insurance did cover it using CPT code A9282 with a description of "Hair Prosthesis for induced chemotherapy". The MO's prescription read "Cranial Prosthesis" with ICD 10 - 50.919. Not sure if this helps or not.

You have a great hubby. I don't know what I would have done without mine.

Hang in there. It will be over before you know it.

Sweetp - I would recommend going to a local wig place to at least try on what they have available so that you can get a sense of what fits. The place I went to just put a net over my hair. They are usually trained in how to measure your head. Most places will not allow you to return a wig.

I bought one synthetic wig - price was listed as around $500 but insurance stepped in and price was adjusted and then my cost was 30%. You need a doctor order for "cranial prosthesis" to have insurance coverage.

It sounds like you will have a very busy day. I hope all goes well. I'm kind of surprised that they have scheduled these meetings for after surgery. Some people have minimal drugs with port placement, but I was pretty knocked out. I don't think I could have paid much attention afterwards. Good thing your husband is going as well.

I don't think he has ever recovered!

I went to a place that specialized in wigs and got a wonderful lightweight sythenic wig, which they styled just how I waited. It was a brand called Amy's Choice; I could swim in if I wanted to, sleep in if I wanted to. It was developed by a soap opera star named Amy. I can't remember her last name or show, but she has alopecia and has to wear a wig all the time forever and couldn't find anything she thought was very comfortable or suited for real life situations (like swimming etc.), so started her own line. This was 10 years ago so I don't know if they are available or not anymore.They are spendy, and at the time anyway, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Dakota didn't recognize hair as a body part, so wouldn't pay for a wig even with a prescription (which I fought to no avail all the way to the State Insurance Commissioner ). So I paid for it myself because it was important to me to look "normal", mostly because I didn't want people to treat me differently or even know what was going on unless I wanted them to. (My "hair" never looked better.)