Working during Chemo

[yogafreak]

All,

I will start Chemo early Dec and was wondering if anyone on this site continued to work during chemo. Is it even possible?

My life has been turned upside down like everyone on this site.

[tamaramatei]

Hi, everything is individual. if yiu feel strong enough. it is possible to keep working. I'm having chemotherapy currently and I work. I am having the treatment on Friday so that I could have the weekend ahead to recover. So far it has worked, although I feel weak on Monday and Tuesday. Good luck and all the best.

[yogafreak in reply to tamaramatei]

Thank you!

[GBIRVMIC]

Hi my company let me work when I felt ok. On the whole I worked when I felt ok and then when my immune system was low after 8-9 days after chemo I worked from home. I then worked Mon, Wed and Fri 10-2pm for about 2 months. I finished chemo end of June and now on Avastin until Feb. I'm now working 5 hours a day/5 days a week. If I feel really bad I do stay at home as Avastin does make me tired. I'm not returning to work full time until March. and that is if I feel ok. My Doctor has signed me off until then. Hope this helps. Love Michelle x

[yogafreak in reply to GBIRVMIC]

Thank you!

[Hidden]

I didn't work during my first cycle of chemo carbo taxol but on my 2nd and 3rd cycle I did work, although I was tired I coped ok x

[Choski]

I had too many side effects to even consider working and I was ill for 8 to 10 days each time, and my work automatically expected me to be off for the whole time. I needed the third week (when I felt OK) to recoup and to relax. If you work for yourself then it may be possible, however you also need to be very careful on days 10 through 14 of each chemo session (if you have it every 3rd week) as you will be prone to infection.

If you can - take the whole time off, you need to put yourself first. My last day at work was 7th March and I went back for two weeks on 29th August for 2 hours a day, I'm now working 4 hours a day five days a week but will put my hours up to 6 hours a day and back to full time hours just before Christmas.

Take care

Clare xx

[minard]

Hi there. I work for myself and have a ridiculous drive to keep everything going. First time round I worked throughout and probably felt worse because of it. In some ways it was good for my mental health (as it's a big part of who I am) but you really do need to take care of yourself.

Now in my first recurrence, I have decided to slow down a little. Yes I am still working but I am focusing on being flexible and taking time off when I feel yuck (like yesterday and today). It's really an individual thing, and probably easier for me that if I was in an employee situation. My first carbo/taxol regime seemed do-able at first, and I was a bit gungho. I'm now much wiser and understand that how I feel after my first treatment will not be the same as how I feel later on.

Good luck! x

[Cropcrop]

I couldn't work during chemo, I had it weekly so i was in a constant state of nausea and tiredness and the cumulative effect made doing the most simple of things difficult towards the end of the 18 weeks I didn't even get dressed some days, plus my immune system took a real battering and I was at risk of infections if I had been at work. If you can stay at home I would suggest you do, there are some really strong radical chemicals being put into you and the long term effects are quite dramatic so give your body the best chance to cope and recover. good luck with your chemo, it will be worth it in the long term ❤️

[Aniram1973]

Hiya. it's totally individual but yes it's certainly possible. I had weekly carbo/taxol and I was fine. the last 2 weeks my neutrophils took a hit and I was at risk of infection so stayed home but that was just preventative.

Best of luck xxx

[Lost4Words]

Hi,

I think it depends on where you work and what you do. I worked in a school and as it's a hot bed of germs, especially in the winter months, they didn't want me to work. They said they couldn't guarantee my safety (keep me away from infections) so preferred it if I stayed away. I'm glad I did as they had an outbreak of norvo virus, chicken pox and shingles. All of which by the time they knew about them would have put me at serious risk.

If you're not sure what to do, what about having the first cycle off and seeing how you feel (keep a diary of good/bad days). This gives you time to recover without the pressure of having to work or feeling like you're letting them down if you can't go in. Then if their are days you feel you could have worked, speak to your HR dept and see if they can accommodate you. Chemo can have a cumulative effect so you may also find the more you have the more tired you become.

L4W

[Gleedy in reply to Lost4Words]

Same for me. I had every intention to work but I'm also in a school and my oncologist said no way to work. That said I could never have gone in every day. My alarm goes off at 6 every morning for work. On chemo that would have been so hard. Also I had an ulcerated throat through most of it so talking was so painful. I was horrified at first that I couldn't work but my oncologist took my hand as said now it's time to be kind to yourself. it's not nice not being able to work and it did not help mentally. I felt left out, different, a failure etc but I think it gave my body the best chance to keep strong and get through the surgery nd treatments. I returned 26 days after last chemo and it's hard work. I'm glad I did have that time off looking back. x

[caf132]

Hello- I worked all through my chemo. I work a very physical job outdoors. It all went pretty well. There were days I took off-always when I got the two drugs or when I felt awful. When my blood counts were low I took shorter days also. It can be done but be prepared for down times. I feel it helped me to stay as normal as possible to keep my daily routine.

never feel bad asking for advise or just to vent. We are all in this together!

XX Carol

[Tracex]

Hi im currently still working full time through my chemo i take a couple days off after 1st dose of carbo/gem has its a bit tough on body with steriods/anti-sickness meds..... then on day 8 when have gem alone just take 1 day after as no real side effects... but only work if you feel ok in yourself as chemo is tough on bloods and your body.. i just rest as soon as get home all the best xxx

[HogwartsDK]

Hey Yoga freak!

I had the 3 weekly Carbo/Taxol regime. I got my Chemo on the Weds and was usually back at work full time the following Weds! The main reason I took the time off is that I have to drive to work and I didn't feel safe driving for the few days after Chemo! Work was fine I have an office job but it is busy and challenging! I found it took my mind off the Chemo and the interaction with work colleagues was critical for my mental health! As others have said it really is an individual choice and I think you have to wait and see how you feel! The last Chemo knocked the stuffing out of me and I did take a few weeks off after that one!

Good Luck!

Dx

[Hidden]

I worked through first line, currently working through 2 nd line . I always take a couple of days off, just after chemo when I know I am going to be feeling low .

[Hidden]

I took time off until well after my chemo finished. I worked with the public and handled money and decided it was safer for my immune system not to be open to infection. But it is a personal choice you do have to be careful also.