Working through Chemo

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berries
berries Member Posts: 277
edited October 2019 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

Hi all,

I will be starting chemo sometime in the next few weeks on the dd AC/T regimen and would like to work throughout my treatment. I'm a 35-year-old and work at a pretty low-stress desk job, so I will not be doing anything too strenuous.

After chemo, I will also be going to daily radiation for several weeks.

For those who worked during the months of chemo and radiation, how did you balance it all? I am sure that I will be taking weeks off, but I wanted to know for those who have gone through this:

1. What days do you recommend chemo? I have heard Thursdays are best, so you have the weekend to recover. Did you go back to work on Monday? I will be traveling about an hour to a further infusion center who has the Dignicap service available.

2. What time do you recommend slotting in radiation?

3. Any tips or tricks for getting through this time while trying to stay normal?

This is all so very new and frightening to me, and I'm a very type-A person, so having a plan of attack and routine I know is going to really help me heal both physically and emotionally.

Thank you so much xx

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited October 2019

    I had chemo on Fridays--I knew the first day or two were generally okay because of the pre-meds (steroids really help!), and I wanted to feel good on the weekends. I was fine going out on Fridays and Saturdays, would start to feel a little droopy late Sunday, and start bouncing back on Tuesdays.

    I work from home and am not far from my treatment center so I scheduled my rads around lunch time.

    Re: time off, I took half a day on treatment day but nothing other than that through chemo. I also didn't take any time off for rads--just counted it as my lunch.

    I never felt nauseous but took the anti-nausea meds for ~two days following treatment because I figured why not (plus they can help you sleep--some women have sleep issues with the steroid). I've also posted *many* times that I really pushed protein--red meat 5-6 days a week, plus an egg every day, plus a protein shake every day. My blood levels stayed good throughout--in fact, my MO told me I was the only patient she'd seen who was making blood while on chemo.

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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited October 2019

    Both times I did chemo on Thursday’s. Steroids helped immensely the first day, but then came the crash on Saturday/Sunday. I went back to work (an hour drive each way) on Monday. By the end I was taking Friday off just because I needed the rest (and because I could). If I had to do it again on the same bi-weekly schedule I’d probably pick Wednesday afternoon, so I felt more rested by Monday.

    I did radiation first thing in the morning, in-and-out in no time. And because I was first of the day, I never got backed up from previous appointments. I could then go on to work and it didn’t make much of a dent in my day.
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  • April0315
    April0315 Member Posts: 223
    edited October 2019

    I worked thru chemo as well. I had chemo on Tuesdays, worked Fri, Sat and Monday. I’m a nurse in a busy hospital. I tried to be all clever and figure out what my good days and bad days were etc... but, I basically was tired everyday so this schedule worked for me. For me the day after chemo was a hard day to work just bc I would nap all day then up all night from the steroids. I tried a few Wednesday’s, but they were really tough. Keep in mind I work 12.5 hour shifts.

    I will not get radiation so I can’t help there.

    As far as staying normal... just do the best you can. You’ll find your rhythm. After the AC I felt a million times better, but the fatigue was a challenge.

    You’ll get thru this. Hang in there!

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  • Farfalla6
    Farfalla6 Member Posts: 105
    edited October 2019

    I worked through chemo. I did Thursday afternoons, felt great Friday, crashed Saturday /Sunday. BUT towards the end of treatment I did develop severe anemia and that was v hard to work through. I mean, I did it, but that side effect affected me more than the chemo infusions, because I would get out of breath getting dressed for work. That resolved within a few weeks after chemo and I had no trouble working through radiation at all.


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  • SparkleGirl2018
    SparkleGirl2018 Member Posts: 48
    edited October 2019

    Hi VMB,

    I worked through chemo. I had my infusions on Thursday (which I took off). Infusion lasted about 3 hrs and I was just ready to go home and relax after. I felt good and worked on Friday. I also took the nausea meds regularly the first couple of days after AC treatment. During AC which I had once every two weeks (4x's) I usually had to take Monday off after infusion. During Taxol I did not need to take any time off except for the infusion day. I took a half day that day.

    I am just finishing up 30 rad treatments and feel pretty good. I go at lunch time. I am usually gone about an hour. I am tired at night and make sure to go to bed early and get at least 8-9 hours of sleep a night.

    Just make sure you drink plenty of fluids! Even when you feel like you can't eat or drink anything. It made a big difference for me.

    Good luck with your treatments

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  • 2019whatayear
    2019whatayear Member Posts: 767
    edited October 2019

    I work at a desk - all my work is at work I don’t have an option to work from home. Here is what I did during A/C - this was my MOs recommendation:

    Work Monday Work Tues A/C Wed Off Thursday Off Friday Off the weekend off Monday off Tues Work Wed Work Thurs Work Friday off the Weekend Work Mon Work Tuesday -Wed next round of AC

    This workedwell for me itwas good to be able to work 2 days one week and three days the next so I was not off for full weeks at a time.

    Now I am doing Taxol so now I work Mon-Wed each week -Treatment on Thursday and the off on Friday .

    hTH !


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  • mistyeyes
    mistyeyes Member Posts: 584
    edited October 2019

    I had chemo on Thursday, I worked all through the week and did my rads on my lunch break during work. My husband was retired and did a lot of the home stuff, so when I wasn't working I was resting. I took off a few days when I felt really tired.


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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited October 2019

    I had chemo on Friday and worked from home on Monday, back at the office on Tuesday. I only had fourrounds of chemo so it was very doable. I had rads in the morning on my way into work. Just adjusted my hours a bit as I got in a little later than usual.

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  • nzkom14
    nzkom14 Member Posts: 5
    edited October 2019

    Hi Vmb,

    I had 4 rounds of TC and worked thru chemo. The first round wasn't too bad; I had diarrhea and the steroids gave me insomnia and terrible night sweats. I ended up going back to the infusion clinic for IV fluid and potassium replacement (4 hours in the chair); second round I took Imodium once the diarrhea started so it was much better. I didn't get nauseous at all, but I took Zofran religiously the first 2 days; by the 3rd dose, I already knew my symptoms so I just manage with otc drugs, except for the sleeping aid and the pain meds ( I had terrible bone pain from the Neulasta). The 4th one was the only time I had to call off work, I had severe swelling on my legs and needed to keep them elevated. But I am a nurse and work 12hr shifts, mostly on my feet :(

    You can do it. Try to go in on Thursday or Friday, by monday you should be ok.

    Drink plenty of water, I added lemon to mine since my taste buds were off.

    I didn't need radiation.


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  • cathy67
    cathy67 Member Posts: 514
    edited October 2019

    Hi Ladies,

    I just moved from September surgery group. I got my post-op pathology report this Tuesday, sentinel lymph node 1/1 positive, 2.1 cm while it was 0.8 cm in the biopsy report, grade 2 upgraded from grade 1 in the biopsy report. Mine is ER 8 out of 8 positive, PR 5 out of 8 positive and HER 2 0/3, I thought it was very early caught, but the final report gave me big shock.

    I had been always on six months followup, and this time ultrasound found it is a very small lesion, hard for the doctor to locate, then it turned out to be a 2.1 cm with grade 2 and lymph node positive situation.

    I did some search myself, I know today's technology can handle this, but must work through chemo. I am still waiting for the appointment with oncologist, surgeon told me may need three weeks waiting. And I also need to go through bone scan, I am very very scared of that, .. can anybody tell me the possibility of bone mets for sentinel lymph node 1/1? Mine is 3mm deposit.

    Anyway, it is good to find this post. I am August diagnosis, September surgery, and October chemo, we're together, sisters!


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  • berries
    berries Member Posts: 277
    edited October 2019

    Hi cathy67, we were diagnosed on the same day! I had surgery on 9/18 and will start chemo the week of 10/21.

    I had a very similar situation happen to me after surgery. My MRI, ultrasound and Mammo all showed no lymph node involvement, so my surgeon only planned for a SNB. During surgery they took my sentinel nodes and 4/4 tested positive. It was and still is a very HUGE shock. I'm still so upset and scared. I also have a CT and bone scan next week. Pray for the best outcome.

    Stay strong!

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  • cathy67
    cathy67 Member Posts: 514
    edited October 2019

    Hi vmb,

    Yes, you also in that surgery group!! Hug!!!

    All the candidates for SNB are clinically armpit lymph nodes negative, I just found the positive result only occupies a small part, and mine is a macro one (3mm, bigger than 2mm).

    What is your chemo regimen? I am 52 years old, not sure what the oncologist will prescribe to me. Since mine is lumpectomy, so I will go through radiotherapy for sure, right now, armpit lymph node dissection is not recommended.

    Stay together!

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  • cathy67
    cathy67 Member Posts: 514
    edited October 2019

    And vmb,

    Who told you it is stage IIIA? They put pT2pN1a, on my final report, but I guess they also need M info to set the stage.


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  • cathy67
    cathy67 Member Posts: 514
    edited October 2019

    Hi SparkleGirl,

    How is your hair loss during your TC regimen? Shall I prepare a wig in advance?

    Thanks.


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  • cathy67
    cathy67 Member Posts: 514
    edited October 2019

    Hi vmb,

    Who told you it is stage IIIA? They put pT2pN1a on my pathology report, hopefully M0 after bone scan.

    Best wishes for your bone scan report!

    I am also very very scared.

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  • Kamboka
    Kamboka Member Posts: 975
    edited October 2019

    I did chemo on Wednesdays. Worked on Thursday and Friday. I started feeling bad on Friday afternoon. Saturday and Sunday were my worst days. Then I went to work on Monday. I worked the entire time but during the last few weeks of AC, I would work at the office for four hours and then come home and finish working from there.

    I'm doing radiation now. Just started this week. I have an 0800 appointment. If the positioning is good, I'm finished in 15 minutes. I get to work early.


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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2019

    Welcome, nzkom14! Thank you so much for sharing your experience - it's so valuable for members to hear how others have coped!

    The Mods

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited October 2019

    hi there i worked at a medical center worked for couple wks but had to take leave of absence I was way too tired with all after effects. Good luck to those who can rest was very important part of my treatment but things may be different now I was 42 at diagnosis planning 2nd marriages Praise God I am a 25yr Survivor. msphil idc stage2 0/3 nodes 3mo chemo before and after Lmast we got married then rads 7wks and 5yrs on Tamoxifen

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  • cathy67
    cathy67 Member Posts: 514
    edited October 2019

    Thanks for sharing your experience, everybody.

    I just got an appointment to see MO this wednesday, someone just cancelled. Will get back here to update, lets spend through together.

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