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Post Chemo and Work

tngirl
tngirl CSN Member Posts: 28
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has felt the same about their job or work as I do. My last chemo was in January. I work in a school system as a diagnostician. I did continue to work throughout my chemo and missed about 3-4 days a month and had been given a lighter work load. Being a diagnostician I was also able to work some days at home. I have always been a work-a-holic and always going above and beyond what my job entailed, but now that I am back "full-time" I am still having some difficulty with focusing, putting my thoughts into words, and just don't seem to have the same drive I did before. Everything seems to overwhelm me and I am unable to multitask. I have been knocking around the idea of quitting this job and finding something part-time. Do you ever really "get back to normal" after your chemo?
I was also wondering if anyone knew the re-occurrence rate for Type IIC. So far my CA-125 has been good - 12.5. Yeah!
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Comments

  • saundra
    saundra CSN Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #2
    Yes, Indeed
    I think priorities change which may change career goals. I am unable to multitask at home (I'm retired) though and fortunately my husband back stops me or I would probably burn the house down. I also have trouble focussing on movies or any TV program over an hour. So you are not alone in that. You are doing great to have worked through chemo. I am not sure I could have done that. I think you should give it a little more time. It takes at least 6 months to get the chemo out of your system. Saundra
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  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz CSN Member Posts: 1,834 Member
    #3
    Most (80%) of us respond to
    Most (80%) of us respond to first line chemo treatments. Unfortunately, most patients who go into remission with their initial therapy will relapse. The numbers suggest that between 70-90% of patients with ovarian cancer will, at some point in time, have a recurrence of their disease.

    I know a 10 year survivor who has relapsed many times and been successfully treated each time. Her longest remission was 12 months, but most have been shorter. She and I were both diagnosed at stage 3C.

    Carlene
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  • Mawty
    Mawty CSN Member Posts: 133
    #4
    tngirl
    Your explanation of how you feel is exactly the way I feel. I am in recurrence and receiving chemo again, but even during the 7-month remission, I felt the same way. My load has been lightened at work, but I still find myself not getting nearly the amount of work done I used to. I used to work fast and furious, getting great amounts done and juggling many balls in the air. Now I'm lucky to get my e-mail taken care of. I feel I'm not giving my company the time it needs. Of course, I do take a break and look at this board sometimes during the day and I probably shouldn't. But the girls on this board have become so important to me.

    Marty
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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #5
    Mawty said:

    tngirl
    Your explanation of how you feel is exactly the way I feel. I am in recurrence and receiving chemo again, but even during the 7-month remission, I felt the same way. My load has been lightened at work, but I still find myself not getting nearly the amount of work done I used to. I used to work fast and furious, getting great amounts done and juggling many balls in the air. Now I'm lucky to get my e-mail taken care of. I feel I'm not giving my company the time it needs. Of course, I do take a break and look at this board sometimes during the day and I probably shouldn't. But the girls on this board have become so important to me.

    Marty

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
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  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown CSN Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #6
    Chemo brain
    I can fully understand where you are coming from. I am on carbo/taxol (round 5 tomorrow) and can not remember conversations I've just had and sometimes I stop myself in mid sentence because I loose the thread. I am a teacher so goodness knows how I am going to cope back at work? lol. Tina xxx
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  • tngirl
    tngirl CSN Member Posts: 28
    #7
    Tina Brown said:

    Chemo brain
    I can fully understand where you are coming from. I am on carbo/taxol (round 5 tomorrow) and can not remember conversations I've just had and sometimes I stop myself in mid sentence because I loose the thread. I am a teacher so goodness knows how I am going to cope back at work? lol. Tina xxx

    Work & Chemo
    Ladies,

    Thank you so much for your replies. It is good to know that I am not the only one struggling with work and some everyday things like a good conversation. I read comments from this site as often as I can and appreciate all of the words of support and information. I need to remember to be patient with myself and to keep on goin! Love you guys - Carol
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