Going back to work

[Alive-today]

Hi everyone, iam on ibrance 125 mg and letrozo teva 2.5 mg, my 2nd week taking them, feeling abit tired, my question is can i go back to work with the medication that i take, i work in a supermarket, my love to everyone

[Barbteeth]

Hi

I’ve seen posts on here from ladies who work with children and the general public and seem ok but maybe they’re on a lower dose of Ibrance

Everyone reacts differently to these drugs and maybe your blood cell counts are fine

I’m no help whatsoever am I?

This really is a question for you oncologist to answer

Barb xx

[Alive-today in reply to Barbteeth]

Thankyou for your answer, i will visit my oncologists in 2 days hopefully will help me to decide

[mariootsi]

I would say ask your onc. But working would be wonderful for a distraction from cancer and help you get back to the "real" world and a sense of normalcy. Also feeling useful. Good luck with your decision.

[Alive-today in reply to mariootsi]

Yes you are so right there being back to the real world and feeling being alive again, thanks for your reply

[Hidden]

Hi,

There are a number of factors to keep in mind. First, you mention that you are tired. Do you feel that the tiredness might interfere with your work, or even driving there and back? Second, do you feel that you are ready to return to work? I have continued to work since my diagnosis and I actually feel better for it. It makes me still feel "normal" and it's a brilliant distraction. After all, who wants to think about cancer 24/7? We have to live with it day in and day out, but it isn't all there is in our lives. I would run your concerns by your oncologist or oncology nurses. If your medication is affecting your driving, then that is something you need to think about. Before I started treatment I asked if I could still drive while taking Letrozole and Zoladex, as I was concerned that those medications might interfere.

All the best,

Sophie

[Alive-today in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou for your reply Sophie.

Yes iam not sure if iam ready to return back to work, first with all my colleagues asking different questions about my illness, second the doctor told me to take this medication for 3 months than if everything goes well i have to have an operation to remove my breast, so don't know if it's worth if going back, but iam going crazy at home, I am sure you understand me

[Hidden in reply to Alive-today]

You're welcome!

Perhaps you need a little longer before you go back to work. It's up to you. If you have a mastectomy in 3 months you will have to take time off again as you recover from surgery, so maybe it might be an idea to wait until then.

As to talking to your colleagues about your illness, again that is up to you. You don't have to go into a lot of detail if you don't want to. I'm self-employed, so don't have that issue so much, although I did tell a few of my clients, one of whom is going through a rare form of cancer. Remember that once it's out there you can't take it back, so I would select those you feel most comfortable with if you choose to talk about it. With those I am not close to, I normally thank them for their concern, but I don't share anything with them. It's up to you to decide who knows what is going on in your life.

All the best!

Sophie 💘

[Snowcone16]

Everyone is different. My time on Ibrance was mostly uneventful. I flew 4-6 times per month and traveled at least 2 weeks every cycle. Good luck to you!

[Hidden]

I take Ibrance 125 and faslodex. I work in a middle school and went back full time after I finished chemo in 2014. My wbcs are low around 3, but come back up on days off. I agree with the benefits of working as described by SAISP. There’s just so much sitting around you can do. I do get tired sometimes. I’ve managed not to nap Monday and Tuesday, but today I could

Not stay awake when I got home. I can’t “cat nap” so I took about 3 hours. Hope to get back to sleep at reasonable time. I try to eat well. Lots of greens, fewer carbs. I love my bread! And don’t put a cookie or a muffin in front of me. Drink a lot of water. I don’t get sick more than anyone else, which is amazing as I am the school nurse and get coughed in all the time. Do whatever you can to boost your immune system. If it doesn’t work out for u full time there is always Plan B. I wish I had the money and insurance to work part time, but I spend on travel and need my gold insurance card for the Ibrance. Take it a step at a time and just be aware that you may have to nap/sleep more. Definitely don’t stay up late if you can help it. Sounds like you stand on your feet a lot. Comfy shoes. I just tossed out my old mattress and am sleeping so much more comfortably on my new one. Think about what you want to tell your colleagues. Out of anxiety I blabbed to a lot of people at work who are well intentioned but looking back I wish I hadn’t. Think about what you are comfortable telling them and prepare your little speech and thank them for their concern. Good luck!!!🍀👍

[Kimr2081]

I'm not on Ibrance anymore but I worked when I was and still am working while taking Xeloda which is an oral chemo pill. I am a bank auditor so around people all the time. My doctor doesn't have a problem with it and it keeps me sane!!

[Cshipley123]

I'm on 125 mg as well. I'm an academic coach in an elementary school. I'm around kids all of the time. I do get tired at times, but I love my job and it keeps me focused on other things rather than cancer. I do make sure to wash my hands a lot! Best wishes to you!

[PickedTheWrongChick]

Diagnosed is 2012 and have rarely missed a day of work since. Only time I have take off is for surgeries. I find that working keeps my mind off my cancer. I have been very open about it at work as I have found that there have been so many others who have either have been themselves or have family/friends who have been diagnosed. My hope is to provide a little encouragement to them- if they can see my at Stage IV working and surviving, then hopefully others with not as advanced cancers will know that they too can fight this terrible disease.

You may have to make adjustments in your schedule but most employers will make accommodations. I work in a large office building with over 1000 employees so they allowed me to have an enclosed work space and also allow me to work from home as needed. Wash your hands often and don't be afraid to ask others to wash theirs as well and tell people you have a compromised immune system to they know not to be around you if they have any hints of being sick.

Best of luck.