Working through chemo

[Purple60]

Hi All, I would be interested in hearing from women who have worked through chemo or tried and had to take a leave. I have an extremely understanding manager. I am on Taxol weekly for 3 weeks and then off one week. I just completed my fourth infusion and am progressively getting fatigued. Find myself spending more days in bed. I ask myself if I am nuts trying to continue to work (I am a consultant and am working remotely and mostly from my bed). On the other hand, is it good for me to do as much as I can to keep my mind engaged and not give in to this disease.

[Lovemylakie]

Good morning, I worked all through chemo and radiation, I had a bookkeeping business. Only after being diagnosed with MBC a year ago I decided to retire. My new treatment makes me so fatigued and with my brain being in a fog there's no way I can do accounting now. I do miss my clients but had to do what's best for me.

Best to you

Robin

[Purple60 in reply to Lovemylakie]

Thank you Robin. I appreciate your perspective.

[nstonerocks]

I had Abraxane and took a leave for my mental health. Could have physically kept working, but was a mental wreck after diagnosis. Took off almost 3 months. You should do whatever is right for you. I’m working full time but at 65 thinking of retirement.

[Purple60 in reply to nstonerocks]

Yes I have a high pressured job filled with deadlines and some days or weeks things happen and work deadlines suffer. I think for my emotional well being I need a short break. Appreciate hearing from you.

[Stoli]

Yes, I worked through Chemo & Radiation. My work family were very understanding and some days I would come in for only 1/2 days but mentally I needed to work to focus on something else. I will say some mornings I would say to myself I can’t do this but would push myself to get dress & having a routine really helped me.

Everyone is different and you need to do what is best for you. Good Luck & wishing the best for you.

Mona

[Purple60 in reply to Stoli]

Thank you. I guess the added stress for me is I live alone and there is just no one else to help pick up the slack. So it adds to the emotional stress. Thank you for responding.

Jo

[DeniNewell]

I worked through all of it - surgery, chemo, six weeks of M-F radiation - although I took Friday off after a Thursday mastectomy. Other than that one Friday, the only days I missed were chemo treatment or surgery days. And to make matters worse, I live in a very rural area. Treatment was 100 miles each way. No, I am not superwoman, I did not have a choice. I had to support myself.

[Purple60 in reply to DeniNewell]

Well you do sound like superwoman! My hat off to you. Following radiation I had some days that I was so fatigued I never went out, let alone drive 100 mins to appointments!! Amazing

[Rhwright12]

Hi!

I work full time in the schools and run a couple of children’s ministry classes during the week...at this point my life is pretty much going on...(3 years MBC in June)...That being said I go down to 10 hours secular work in the summer plus my ministry hours...so the break really helps me recharge! 😀

[Bubbles001]

I worked during chemo, surgery, and radiation during/after my original diagnosis four years ago. I signed up for intermittant FMLA so I could take days off when I needed to, but I didn't need to take too many. A year ago, when my cancer spread to my liver (it was in my bones only initially), I worked another 10 months but retired after that as I had a stressful job and didn't feel I could give it my all. Now that I'm in a clinical trial and having to go to the doctor every week in another city, and having a lot of fatigue, I'm glad not to be working.

[Home18 in reply to Bubbles001]

Bubbles were you able to get disability and was it a pretty smooth process applying for it?

[Bubbles001 in reply to Home18]

Yes, I was able to qualify for Ssdi as soon as I stopped working and got my approval letter about 3 weeks after my application. I also was approved for private long term disability but they go through the approval process every three months, so they could change their minds at some point. Finally, I was approved for disability retirement in my state pension without issue.

[Home18 in reply to Bubbles001]

Thank you! I’m starting the process so this is good news to me!!

[kearnan in reply to Home18]

Realize though that there is a five month unpaid waiting period. Most people are not aware of this. So you need enough money to be able to wait to get your first SSDI check which is really the sixth month. And a two year wait to get on Medicare so you have to pay for your own insurance.

[Hidden]

I respect that working is good for you for the reasons you mentioned. However, don’t be a “Viking” either if you find you’re wearing yourself down. In the US, you are entitled to reasonable accommodations of your condition under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This can include flex time, reduced schedules, etc. You can initiate a request through your boss and/or HR. Also, if your company has 50 or more employees within a 75 mike radius of where you work, you can take up to 12 weeks of leave, either incrementally or in chunks of time. In some states like MA, there are new paid sick leave laws. Good luck.

[Purple60 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. Yes familiar with the 12 weeks of FLMA but the rest of the info is new to me. I will look into it. Thanks again.

[Shelby4now]

I'm really happy to hear that you are still working. Everyone thought I was crazy to work through chemo and radiation. It helped immensely. I had to start taking notes at times I was foggy