Can I work through it?

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Kelleb
Kelleb Member Posts: 20
in Anal Cancer #1

Well I guess my "team" has gone into action mode. I just got the diagnosis & plan on Tuesday. Today offices are calling to confirm my appts - ct scan, radiologist consult. Surprise, surprise! They must know about my tendency to procrastinate.

What do you all think about working during the chemo/radiation? I'll be having the standard protocol. I am a visual merchandiser for a furniture/decorating co., so it's a fairly physical job. On any day I could be installing chandeliers, making 20 giant beds, climbing ladders, moving furniture, or simply changing lightbulbs.

We could be starting treatment as early as next week.

Thank you for your advice!

 

Kelle

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Comments

  • Lawchick618
    Lawchick618 Member Posts: 20
    #2
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    Kelleb

    Kelleb,

    I hope your life will go without interruption; however, I doubt that it will.  This is a brutal, agonizing treatment.  I was not able to work, drive to appointments, putting one foot in front of the other was a blessing.  This disease brought me to my knees.  I hope your experience will not be this bad.

    I am 15 months post treatment and still recovering.  I wish you the best.

     

     

     

     

     

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #3
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    Kelleb

    I cannot speak from personal experience, as I was not employed at the time of treatment.  However, after about week 2, I was in no shape to work or do much of anything else, primarily due to the fatigue initially, then the pain.  I do know some people are able to work through at least part of the treatment, but it affects everyone differently and you won't know how good or bad you'll feel into you get into it.  My best advice is to plan for taking some time off with the flexibility of not using that time off if you don't need it.

    I hope you'll get started next week and I wish you all the best.

    Martha

  • Kelleb
    Kelleb Member Posts: 20
    #4
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    Lawchick618 said:

    Kelleb

    Kelleb,

    I hope your life will go without interruption; however, I doubt that it will.  This is a brutal, agonizing treatment.  I was not able to work, drive to appointments, putting one foot in front of the other was a blessing.  This disease brought me to my knees.  I hope your experience will not be this bad.

    I am 15 months post treatment and still recovering.  I wish you the best.

     

     

     

     

     

    Exactly what I fear.
    :-/
     

    Exactly what I fear.

    :-/

     

  • Kelleb
    Kelleb Member Posts: 20
    #5
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    mp327 said:

    Kelleb

    I cannot speak from personal experience, as I was not employed at the time of treatment.  However, after about week 2, I was in no shape to work or do much of anything else, primarily due to the fatigue initially, then the pain.  I do know some people are able to work through at least part of the treatment, but it affects everyone differently and you won't know how good or bad you'll feel into you get into it.  My best advice is to plan for taking some time off with the flexibility of not using that time off if you don't need it.

    I hope you'll get started next week and I wish you all the best.

    Martha

    Thanks for your frank

    Thanks for your frank responses...

     

  • lp1964
    lp1964 Member Posts: 1,239 Member
    #6
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    Kelleb said:

    Thanks for your frank

    Thanks for your frank responses...

     

    Dear Kelle,

    It gets much easier when you start treatment. It is such a great feeling of getting rid of the cacer. I work through the tretment as a dentist. It wasnt easy, but my mental strength carried me though. I fuction better when busy. I started drinking coffee for the first time for energy and it worked great. Everybody is different you just have to see. Be very careful with lifting and climbing, because you will be weaker and maybe light headed. Just take it easy, ok. Job is just a job, but your health is your highest priority.

    Laz

  • TraceyUSA
    TraceyUSA Member Posts: 316
    #7
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    Everyone is different

    I was fortunate to be able to be off work from the time of surgery until a few weeks post treatment.  I did not want to work perhaps I could have but I preferred to be off and concentrate on healing. 

    The best advise is to see how you feel.

    Best Wishes,

    Tracey

  • jcruz
    jcruz Member Posts: 379 Member
    #8
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    work?

    As has been said here by others we all have different experiences of the treatment.  I may be on the extreme end of time off but I did not work for seven months.  I was very fortunate to have a bank of sick leave and also had disability insurance.  I really was knocked flat but I hope that you are not.  I remember reading other posts over the last couple of years from people who did work all or some of the way through.

    My best to you

    Janet

  • Bruce1
    Bruce1 Member Posts: 2
    #9
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    hello

    Hi Kelle, Im Bruce and new here. I start treatment on Monday and nervous about it too. I hope to work as long as I can. Will be thinking of you with positive thoughts. Lets get thru this!

  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    #10
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    Hi - I was able to work full

    Hi - I was able to work full time through the first four weeks, although with the help of the company I work for. They had a special program where people who were going thru some kind of treatment were covered for the time they were at those treatments. (So although I say 'full time', it wasn't really 'full time'. Plus, I have a desk job, no heavy lifting and a very calm atmosphere.) After four weeks the fatigue set in, along with radiation burns, and I had to cut down to 20 hours/week, a lot of it done from home. I wish you all the best.

    Rose

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #11
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    Bruce1 said:

    hello

    Hi Kelle, Im Bruce and new here. I start treatment on Monday and nervous about it too. I hope to work as long as I can. Will be thinking of you with positive thoughts. Lets get thru this!

    Bruce1

    I wanted to say hi and welcome you, but I'm sorry you have a reason to be here.  I was very nervous before my treatment began just like you.  However, I found that starting treatment actually lessened my anxiety because I was finally doing something to go after the cancer.  I hope you will get through it with a minimum of side effects and that you'll be able to work as long as possible.  You will get through this just as so many of us have before you.  Come back and let us know how Monday goes and if there is anything we can do to help make this journey as easy as possible for you.  Best wishes.

    Martha

  • Kelleb
    Kelleb Member Posts: 20
    #12
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    Treatment begins 4/27.

    Treatment begins 4/27. Nervous? Yep.

    I'm just going to play it by ear. My job is secure, so I have no worries there - thankfully! I'm just going to go until I can't.

    Of course I'm over thinking the small stuff; things I won't be able to address until I get there :-) But trying to remember that the cancer will be gone.

    Thank you all!

    xokelle

  • Kelleb
    Kelleb Member Posts: 20
    #13
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    Bruce1 said:

    hello

    Hi Kelle, Im Bruce and new here. I start treatment on Monday and nervous about it too. I hope to work as long as I can. Will be thinking of you with positive thoughts. Lets get thru this!

    best wishes!

    Bruce, I'll be thinking of you!! I'm starting the following Monday, 4/27. Best wishes & keep in touch!

    k

  • Bruce1
    Bruce1 Member Posts: 2
    #14
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    mp327 said:

    Bruce1

    I wanted to say hi and welcome you, but I'm sorry you have a reason to be here.  I was very nervous before my treatment began just like you.  However, I found that starting treatment actually lessened my anxiety because I was finally doing something to go after the cancer.  I hope you will get through it with a minimum of side effects and that you'll be able to work as long as possible.  You will get through this just as so many of us have before you.  Come back and let us know how Monday goes and if there is anything we can do to help make this journey as easy as possible for you.  Best wishes.

    Martha

    thanks

    thankyou Martha Ill let you know how things go...wondering if I should take my nausea meds before I start treatment just to ward off sickness?

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #15
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    Bruce1 said:

    thanks

    thankyou Martha Ill let you know how things go...wondering if I should take my nausea meds before I start treatment just to ward off sickness?

    Bruce1

    That would be a good question to ask your chemo nurse or doctor.  I don't feel qualified to answer that one.  Most, if not all, drugs have side effects, so taking them only as needed might be advisable, but please ask someone on your care team.  Best wishes to you!

    Martha

  • milosmommy
    milosmommy Member Posts: 1
    #16
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    Anal cancer-stage 4

    Well, my 34 year old daughter has the stage 4....I was just wondering if I could find out how it's going for others...My daughter has had the radiation, 6 chemos....waiting for them to do another scan... I AM WORRIED SICK!

     

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #17
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    milosmommy said:

    Anal cancer-stage 4

    Well, my 34 year old daughter has the stage 4....I was just wondering if I could find out how it's going for others...My daughter has had the radiation, 6 chemos....waiting for them to do another scan... I AM WORRIED SICK!

     

    milosmommy

    I'm very sorry to hear about your daughter.  Please know that I send her prayers and best wishes.

    Martha

  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #18
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    milosmommy said:

    Anal cancer-stage 4

    Well, my 34 year old daughter has the stage 4....I was just wondering if I could find out how it's going for others...My daughter has had the radiation, 6 chemos....waiting for them to do another scan... I AM WORRIED SICK!

     

    milosmommy....

    Hi, I am sorry for both your daughter and yourself. I have 4 daughters and a daughter-in-law who is like a daughter to me. As much as I have had challenges to face myself dealing with this cancer it would be even more difficult to watch my daughter suffer through!

    I am nearing the end of treatment for a recurrance of anal cancer (originally diagnosed 4yrs ago so now considered Stage4) and, I consider myself to be doing well. The effects of chemo and radiation are numerous for some yet little for others. Healing takes time, so patience is needed. I pray your daughter's scan will come back with good results bringing you both some reassurance. You have every reason to believe that it will as this cancer is very treatable!

    Please keep us posted.

    katheryn

  • Kelleb
    Kelleb Member Posts: 20
    #19
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    Bruce1 said:

    thanks

    thankyou Martha Ill let you know how things go...wondering if I should take my nausea meds before I start treatment just to ward off sickness?

    How are you?

    I've been thinking @ you ...Day 2, how are you doing?

     

    kelle

  • horsepad
    horsepad Member Posts: 146 Member
    #20
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    I would not have been able to

    I would not have been able to work through it.  I was very burnt, hospitalized, bed ridden, and had a cathetor for several months. 

    I was stage 4 when diagnosed in 2011 and although treatment was rough, it only lasted for a few months.  I have been doing great since treatment.

  • pializ
    pializ Member Posts: 508 Member
    #21
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    horsepad said:

    I would not have been able to

    I would not have been able to work through it.  I was very burnt, hospitalized, bed ridden, and had a cathetor for several months. 

    I was stage 4 when diagnosed in 2011 and although treatment was rough, it only lasted for a few months.  I have been doing great since treatment.

    Work

    I wouldn't have been able to work during treatment. Firstly, as a therapist my head was elsewhere and it would have been inappropriate. Secondly, although I coped fairly well with treatment, the first week I was physically exhausted. I would nod off mid sentence much to my daughters amusement. Also, as our immunity is compromised, I kept myself as isolated as possible. As the burns began to take hold and my need to use my bidet became more and more necessary, it would have been impossible to look after myself.  However, I know of just a couple of people who managed to work through, and to be honest, I take my hat off to them

    Liz

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