This is a logistics question. If it turns out that I need to get radiation treatments with adt, whether I go with Fox Chase in Philly, or Johns Hopkins in Baltimore (2 closest best places), it would be a 2 hour drive each way for me. Is it realistic to try to work some kind of part-time hours at my normal 8 to 5 job, or should I try to get FMLA leave? Has anyone here been in this situation?
Question about balancing treatment, a... - Advanced Prostate...
Question about balancing treatment, and my job
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twostrats
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I guess the first question is do you want/need to work during radiation? If you don’t there’s not an issue, take the leave. But, assuming you do and are physically able during radiation, without working non-standard hours the best you can probably work is half days. Do you know if you can the same time slot every day that would allow you to be back home around noon or leave for radiation around noon? That would allow you to either work mornings or afternoons. Is remote work a possibility and would that help?
I worked during my radiation though I was closer to the hospital than you. I lived about 45 min from the hospital and about 45 from work in different directions. It was about the same time to work from home or from the hospital. I was able to get an early morning slot. I’d drive to radiation at about the same time I would have normally started work, have the 20-30 min treatment, and drive directly to work. I was usually 1 to 1 1/2 hours late. My work was fine with it.
Hope this helps.
Absolutely, thank you
• in reply tofireandice123
You were one strong dude to do so! 👏👏👏
I never had a RP, but I had 42 radiation sessions (28 on the whole pelvic area and 14 to fry the prostate). I had an hour drive each way for radiation. I had no radiation side effects that interfered with work (as an attorney), so I set up my sessions at 2:30 and worked until 1:30 every day. I was done by 3:00, and would run errands on the way home. The only tough part was making sure I showed up for the radiation sessions with a full bladder, but I got that dialed in after a couple weeks..
Good luck! Drive safe.
Where I had mine done they started at 4:30 am. I was first one everyday and done by 5:30.
If you can get the early time like I did find a place to stay there near the hospital and just drive to work from there. You will feel fine after but the full bladder has to be down to a science. For me that was drinking a 12 ounce bottle of water just before I left for the hospital and I was perfect. Being first helps because you start the day. If you aren’t right on your water intake they will jump you in line. Good luck.
twostrats• in reply to
I've been thinking about doing something like this if it came down to it, maybe an air bnb thank you
We were going to do an Airbnb, but I was nervous because it was non-refundable. Thank goodness, because at the last minute they changed from 4 weeks of IMRT to 2 weeks of SBRT. We both worked remotely. Stayed in an extended stay hotel. Breakfast was included, and a light dinner 3 nights a week. It had a full kitchen, and a nice grocery store nearby. Even brought our dog.
Can you get salvage SBRT instead, or at least hypofractionate it so that it only takes 20 treatments? SBRT is only 5 treatments, every other day. So it is all finished in less than 2 weeks. If you exercise heavily, there should not be any fatigue from the radiation.
Suggest you also meet with Sean Collins at Georgetown, who is excellent. I don't know if he offers salvage SBRT, but worth a try.
I think my hospital does offer hypfractionation, I'll look into that, or SBRT thanks. I'll definitely look up Sean Collins too
Collins does offer salvage SBRT. He treated me with it four months ago.
Dear twostats ! I did imrt for 8 weeks . I was 53 . I rented a condo for that time near the RT center In order to avoid three hours round trip . I was forced into ssdi and couldn’t work . Some guys can pull it off . I couldn’t . Good luck ! Scott
twostrats• in reply to
Thanks Scott
If you do adt and RT the good news is that it put me undetectable for six yrs now . Nothing last forever .. but six yrs past stage #4 is a miracle compared to how I started . Most wrote me off. Even some family . Be positive ! 🙏
• in reply to
It just might last for as long as you need it to.
As you know cancer treatment is just meant to work long enough for you to die of something else.
• in reply to
Thank you . Correct! No money in the cure . With #4 we know it’s all palliative .. Needs and desires are different . I’m a bit amazed that I’m 60 . I’m not greedy! I don’t expect quantity or much physical quality either . Still I’m lucky not to be in brutal pain like so many of us here are . I think almost any way is better than end stage APC chomping me down . I’m all in for a heart attack . I’m not hating life right now so I’d like to give my new wife a few more years together ! But Im not the author of this story . Just a flea on the dogs back . Everything is in Gods ample hands . I’ll ride as long as I can . Good luck on your new path . I’m hoping that you get some relief .
My husband did 5 mega doses. He was concerned with the time away as well. He was fine as far as returning to work each day after radiation.
• in reply toNotAlwaysSunshine
He’s a tuff guy! 👏👏👏👍🏋🏽♂️
NotAlwaysSunshine• in reply to
Thank you - He's a fighter!
I worked full time through RT as a network administrator. Maybe your job is more physical. .
• in reply toMagnus1964
Personally I said screw work and took off. It was my first vacation in a long time. I can say for a fact that my work schedule is why I didn’t pay enough to my health. Paying big for it now.
• in reply to
Carlo. I was a self driven workaholic .. Stressed out for $$$. Ihad two 2 yrs with the tubes and foley in which it was dicey . No way I could work .
• in reply toMagnus1964
Dam good job ! 👏
I would look around closer to home for a center that has IMRT capability, or even proton. These facilities should be able to help get you the rad treatment you need.
I had 42 sessions and was able to continue working. Set up a late in day appoint and went in to work early each day.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck for success
That was my scenario. 25 IMRT, started at 3:30 PM. I'd void about 30 minutes before, drink 12 oz of water and we got it down to a reliable 10 minute cycle time. I found I was bright-eyed and energetic in the mornings right through the appointment, but about 2 hours after treatment, I was really glad it was the end of the day. Eligard currently and adding Zytiga starting in December.
You might want to check with the hospital and see if they have long term patient apartments. Mine was run and owned by a nonprofit group that was right beside the radiation building. Donations were all they accepted.
• in reply to
I wish mine had that . That’s humanitarian ! 👍👏👏
Greetings: twostrats,
Radiation - I've posted this before so to those people who have already seen this please forgive me.
I had 8 weeks of salvage radiation to "the bed". 5 days a week (not weekends) for 8 weeks minus 1 day for a total of 39 sessions at MSKcc. The actual radiation was like getting an x-ray by my dentist. I never had any side effects during the whole 39 sessions. However, 2 years later my left urinary tract was "fried" as per my urologist (or from passing prior kidney stones he was not sure). So, I had to have a urinary stent placed up my urinary tract (through my willy which is really nothing - sounds terrible but it's nothing) to aid in passing my urine (which was never a problem anyway). So I had stents in and out every three months for many years and now I'm stent free, However today 15% of urine from left kidney and 85% from right kidney, but not a problem. So make sure you get a good radiologist. Also, I don't know if this would apply to you but guys here recommend SPACEOAR HYDROGEL to be inserted for protection of parts of your body. Make sure you ask your R.O. about the spaceoar and make sure you ask here on this forum before getting fried.
Except for a two hour drive, I took a one hour subway ride home. If I wasn't retired I could have performed my eight hour white collar job as if it were a normal day. No issues at all.
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Sunday 11/14/2021 1:12 AM EST
Where do you live?
Fox Chase has a facility in East Norriton, PA. It's about 45 minutes northeast of the main hospital in Phildalphia. Depending on where you're coming from this could reduce your commute. I just finished treatments at East Norriton... nice facility and staff, easy in and out treatment.
Thanks John, I'm actually South of FC in Delaware
• in reply tojohn_in_pa
I did my radiation at Einstein Montgomery. 2 miles from my house. I like the proximity and the staff was awesome. These satellite facilities are great.
An outside-the-box consideration. Apologies if it is not applicable for you: in 2007 with APC diagnosis and had prostatectomy, 6 rounds chemo and 30 X SRT that same year. Was functioning well and very active at age 57. But decided my 35 years work in my field was sufficient and it was time to pursue more complete fulfillment of all and highest life goals. Started winding career down and retired within a year. It has been 14 years and greatly enjoyable adventures and learning. The old saying is “no one at the end of life wishes they had spent more time at the office.” Just something to consider if applicable. Good luck. I’d take the leave and stay somewhere nice.
It is possible to continue working. The problem is your travel time. I was employed as a full-time high teacher when I was faced with your same treatment. I considered early retirement, but there was radiation center 10 minutes away from my school. I went for sessions during my lunch break. ...it was like a revolving door in and out within 20 minutes. There was some fatigue, but it wasn't severe. My motivation was thinking with every session cancer cells were dying.
There are closer places to get radiation, but they have terrible reputations. I have a history with Fox Chase so I think it would like to go there.
Safe harbor in this storm is vital. I think I am "difficult" with providers until I feel they are a safe harbor no matter their location. I have to relate to them in a personal way and then I can trust them professionally. After all, to a degree, I am trusting them with my life and my family's future. Reputation is the easiest thing in the world to take away from an organization or person. Empirical data doesn't define every given day. The fact is life is no longer normal for you, so don't try to force it to be. Find the compromises that are least damning to your mental health. Allow those compromises to be your new normal and don't sweat the small stuff. You just have to decide what is the small stuff and the rest will come together.
Just an opinion. As one who, after Brachytherapy, had a short course of 25 sessions of IRMT with SMART technology as a planned primary treatment in 2003. Knowledge and skill are important! I found my RO pros through recommendation by the RO who did the Brachytherapy, at Baylor College of Medicine and Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. Drs. Brian Butler and Bin Teh. Both were early published researchers of the technology and professors. For precise mapping and treatment, patients are immobilized in a prone position in an evacuated “beanbag” contained in a box. Blue ink markers. A Rectal Balloon was used to minimize prostate movement.
I am sure that there are newer IRMT techniques, but this worked in 2003. According to my Gastroenterologist, there is remarkably only minor scarring on the left side of my colon. I point this out because of many damage stories. Eighteen years later I have had zero problems.
As far as time off from work - essentially a half day twice a week, which I was able to use compensatory time off.
GD
I had a similar situation before I retired. I went into the office at 6 every morning then left at noon, did radiation then would check my email to see if I had any crises. It can work !
Don't even try
4 hours of driving every day would wear me down more than the actual treatments. I only had an instance of a drop in WBCs but nothing else during the whole 9 weeks. I worked the whole time but my facility was close enough that I arranged to ride my bike 5 miles into 41 of the 44 appts. Good luck whatever you decide and I hope the treatments don't hit you hard but hit the cancer really hard!
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