Worked thru all your chemo?

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LRN715
LRN715 Member Posts: 34
in Breast Cancer #1
Just wondering, have any of you worked thru all your chemos? Right now I have about a month and a half off....4 sessions of chemo, cytoxin and traxtere, with some major side effects. Originally was scheduled out till July 1....now saying I have to go back to work. Wondering how all of you worked this out ........ I work in the ins industry, on phones all day long, production type of job. Not ale to get up when you want, or your performance suffers.....

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  • BioAdoptMom
    BioAdoptMom Member Posts: 358
    #2
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    I cannot answer your
    I cannot answer your question from a personal standpoint, but my MO just talked with us about two weeks ago. I am supposed to have the same treatment as you are having and he did say I could work (I teach Kindergarten) IF I feel up to it. I am not sure at this point so I have planned to be off the day of the first treatment and the following week, and will take it from there. The second point I want to make though, is if you are not feeling up to it, you shouldn't be going back to work! You need to take care of yourself first and foremost! Who told you that you need to go back to work?

    Nancy
  • Texasgirl10
    Texasgirl10 Member Posts: 668
    #3
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    I worked through chemo
    Yes, I worked through chemo. I had 6 rounds of TAC. I had my treatment on Thursday so I had Fri - Sun to get my strength back.

    Did you fill out FMLA paperwork? Maybe you can get your onc to write a letter to your boss stating that it is medically necessary for you to be out until July 1.

    I'm sorry that you are having a hard time. Please stay strong and remember that you can and are doing this. You are stronger than you realize. We are all here fighting this battle with you and you are winning :) I will be praying for you.

    Hugs,

    Dawne
  • LRN715
    LRN715 Member Posts: 34
    #4
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    Texasgirl10 said:

    I worked through chemo
    Yes, I worked through chemo. I had 6 rounds of TAC. I had my treatment on Thursday so I had Fri - Sun to get my strength back.

    Did you fill out FMLA paperwork? Maybe you can get your onc to write a letter to your boss stating that it is medically necessary for you to be out until July 1.

    I'm sorry that you are having a hard time. Please stay strong and remember that you can and are doing this. You are stronger than you realize. We are all here fighting this battle with you and you are winning :) I will be praying for you.

    Hugs,

    Dawne

    Yes, I do have FMLA
    Yes, I do have FMLA approved, I think this is coming from my Disability company. So, I will be calling them tomorrow to see the reasoning behind this. I have had a lot of ups and downs for the first week and a half now, and cannot imagine having had to work thru this. I got INTENSE bone pain from the Traxtere....for like three days. Well, just though I would check what others are doing.........I need to have money to pay the deductables/coinsurances too, so will see where this ends..........THANSKS ladies!
  • joannstar
    joannstar Member Posts: 403 Member
    #5
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    Yes I worked
    through all of chemo, taking 2 days off each cycle (1 (Friday) for the infusion and then either Monday or Tuesday when the bone pain was so intense that I couldn't really walk). I had 4 rounds of Cytoxin/Taxotere and then was switched to Cytoxin/Taxol when my ankles swelled. The treatments were on a 3 week cycle. My company (which has now been sold so I am going to be job-hunting probably in June) was too small to have to give me time off for FMLA so I had no choice.
    I had a variety of side effects, from itchy rashes to burning feet when I sat with my feet on icepacks all day at work for a week. I am a bookkeeper and am on the computer all day long--my fingers hurt when I typed, but I worked through it all.
    I also scheduled my 33 sessions of rads before work so I didn't take time off for any of that.
    I guess we all do what we have to, but all in all, it wasn't so bad and if necessary I would do it all again to fight this beast.
    Good luck,
    JoAnn
  • mwallace1325
    mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
    #6
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    I worked
    I worked through chemo and rads. I was at a new job, just got insurance thru them. I took off the full days for the 4 A/C chemo, then half days for the 12 taxol, besides time for EKG's and blood work. I just realized the other day that the only time I took off just to stay home and feel cra**y was a day and a half towards the end of taxol cause that one just really kicked my a$$. I don't necessarily recommend my way of doing it; I was tired all the time, but blood work was always spot on, thank God, but if you need to do it, there's a possiblity that you can work most of your way through it.

    Good luck whatever you choose to do.

    marge
  • new2me
    new2me Member Posts: 177 Member
    #7
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    I worked through Chemo
    I took off the day of the treatment(Friday) and also the following Mon-Wed. Those were my down days. Some days were harder than others but I had alot of help at home. My husband took over all the house work & cooking so when I got home i could just sleep, do nothing or be sick. I was able to concentrate on ME and getting better. If I didn't have his help, I don't know if I could have worked too.
    I am lucky that I work at a place where I can get up and move around if need be. I do sit at a desk and do clerical so if I need to take a break and sleep - I can.
  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    #8
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    Working..
    Had my first treatment April 1 and I am trying to work. Job is flexible with me so I am able to work some days from home, which is great for when I feel sick. I think working helps get your mind off of weird thoughts...

    If you need time off, TAKE IT. Your body and healthy are the most important right now.

    Good luck!
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #9
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    LoveBabyJesus said:

    Working..
    Had my first treatment April 1 and I am trying to work. Job is flexible with me so I am able to work some days from home, which is great for when I feel sick. I think working helps get your mind off of weird thoughts...

    If you need time off, TAKE IT. Your body and healthy are the most important right now.

    Good luck!

    I also had 6 rounds of TAC.
    I also had 6 rounds of TAC. I only had to work through the last 2 rounds and by then I had it pretty much figured out as to bad days and good days, so it really wasn't a problem. I would go on Thurs. and take Fri. and Mon. off.
    Dee
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    #10
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    Yes worked through Chemo
    and radiation. I had mine on Tuesdays (every 3 weeks)so then by Friday afternoon, like clockwork, I'd start to wilt. By Monday, I was ready to go back to work.

    For me, it was so important that I kept some normalcy in my life and working was normal. But everyone's different, some people do much better taking time off.


    Hugs,

    Sylvia
  • JoAnn4818
    JoAnn4818 Member Posts: 83
    #11
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    I'm Working Through Chemo
    I've been working full time all through Chemo. I've already completed 4 A/C and 3 Taxol - only one more to go! I got almost every crazy side effect there is but the infusion center seemed to have a pill to help almost everything. I get my chemo on Thursdays. All employees where I work telecommute on Fridays. That was good because the steroids made my face bright red and nobody could see me! Saturday and Sunday I had the worst of the symptoms - mostly Neulasta pain. Sometimes I took the Monday off or I was allowed to telecommute an extra day. I talked to my boss and she really pushed the rules as far as she could for me. I'm so thankful. I have all of our family's insurance in my name so I couldn't lose my job.

    I wish you a lot of luck and hope things work out for you. I'll be thinking of you!

    JoAnn
  • chinup
    chinup Member Posts: 4
    #12
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    I have been working through
    I have been working through all of my treatments. I've completed 4 rounds of a/c with the neulasta shot and two taxol w/ the shot. I didn't have any side effects from the a/c and neulasta with the exception of a few bowel problems, so I was out for a few days then. However, the first Taxol/Nuelasta combination gave me terrible leg and foot pain. I have my treatment on Thursday and the shot on Friday. The bad pain didn't start until Sat. night but subsided daily. I did take that Monday and Tuesday off. I just had the second treatment yesterday so we'll see how it goes this weekend. I know you get tired of hearing it but everybody is different so you'll just have to go with how you feel. For the most part, I feel really good by Wed. of the week following treatment through the next week. And by that I mean energy level. Other than that I have no complaints. I'm on a two week schedule. Best of luck to you.

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