Can I work full time, is it reasonable, just new diagnosis?

mxperry220

kirby77 said:

Thank you Itruchsess
Hello Lauren

I am getting ready to see the med onc in a few minutes. I think I know what you mean about working, but also fearful about starting and stopping. I manage a big group and having me in one day and off the next would be difficult. I have someone that will take over for me in an interim role and feel he would be better accomplish our projects without me. But it does leave me feeling helpless.
I am definitely thrown for a loop, and not at all able to think positively at this time.

I am so grateful that you would share your journey with me and and also very happy to hear of your "cancer free" status. Thank you so very much for your words of encouragement. I am not sure, how we could proceed with a conversation. I will friend you on this site.

Telecommute
Maybe your company could set you up to work from home if you are up to it. Maybe you could work via internet to some extent partenering with your temporary replacement.
Mike

Cheyenne

mxperry220 said:

Surgery Was The Most Painful For Me
I had 2/3 of my tumor surgically removed. Then I had the standard radiation and chemo after surgery. For me the surgery was the most painful but it only lasted about one week if my memory is correct. I had trouble going up and down the stairs as my home is two story with all bedrooms upstairs. I stayed in bed mostly during this time. I did not have severe reaction to radiation or chemo. After week 4 of radiation I did have some minor burning like a severe sunburn with no blisters. My groin area and anus was "sunburned". Iused Aquaphor and found this to be the best ointment for me. You can get this at the grocery store, Target, Walmart.

Me too
That was my experience exactly. The surgery required more recovery than the treatment. I think I was only in bed for two days and I didn't have trouble going up and down the stairs but I remember spending a lot of time in the bathtub and sitting up on one hip. During and after radiation treatment, Aquaphor was a godsend for me! I couldn't do the silvadene (I think that's what it is called) because I'm allergic to sulpha drugs but the Aquaphor and Advil worked for me.

kirby77

mxperry220 said:

Telecommute
Maybe your company could set you up to work from home if you are up to it. Maybe you could work via internet to some extent partenering with your temporary replacement.
Mike

work, frustration with process of approval, and identity
I am employed as a manager, meaning that the face to face time is necessary to accomplish unit and team goals. Very few aspects of my job would translate to telecommutting.

After reading the comments of the many, I decided that focusing on treatment and recovery are also important goals. While my identity is associated with working and being productive, it's also about being able to perform at 100%.

Right now, I have to say I am too fearful of taking both work and treatment on. I guess that's where I am for now.

Monday, I couldn't get out of bed, today, I am up for most of the day. I only look forward to night for the escape of sleep and to deny that's this is happening.

Yesterdays fist medical oncology appointment went ok, they reviewed my CT of chest,pelvis and abdomen, apparently I have 8mm pelvic lymph nodes and a stenosis of my colon. Which they now want to perform at colonoscopy. I just want to get on with the show "radiation and chemo". Everything is moving way to slow for me, each step of the way requires approval on approval. I am only at the beginning but I want my life back now, not after it's approved.

Thank you everyone for your support and response to my rambling.

kirby77

mxperry220 said:

Telecommute
Maybe your company could set you up to work from home if you are up to it. Maybe you could work via internet to some extent partenering with your temporary replacement.
Mike

work, frustration with process of approval, and identity
I am employed as a manager, meaning that the face to face time is necessary to accomplish unit and team goals. Very few aspects of my job would translate to telecommutting.

After reading the comments of the many, I decided that focusing on treatment and recovery are also important goals. While my identity is associated with working and being productive, it's also about being able to perform at 100%.

Right now, I have to say I am too fearful of taking both work and treatment on. I guess that's where I am for now.

Monday, I couldn't get out of bed, today, I am up for most of the day. I only look forward to night for the escape of sleep and to deny that's this is happening.

Yesterdays fist medical oncology appointment went ok, they reviewed my CT of chest,pelvis and abdomen, apparently I have 8mm pelvic lymph nodes and a stenosis of my colon. Which they now want to perform at colonoscopy. I just want to get on with the show "radiation and chemo". Everything is moving way to slow for me, each step of the way requires approval on approval. I am only at the beginning but I want my life back now, not after it's approved.

Thank you everyone for your support and response to my rambling.

mxperry220

kirby77 said:

work, frustration with process of approval, and identity
I am employed as a manager, meaning that the face to face time is necessary to accomplish unit and team goals. Very few aspects of my job would translate to telecommutting.

After reading the comments of the many, I decided that focusing on treatment and recovery are also important goals. While my identity is associated with working and being productive, it's also about being able to perform at 100%.

Right now, I have to say I am too fearful of taking both work and treatment on. I guess that's where I am for now.

Monday, I couldn't get out of bed, today, I am up for most of the day. I only look forward to night for the escape of sleep and to deny that's this is happening.

Yesterdays fist medical oncology appointment went ok, they reviewed my CT of chest,pelvis and abdomen, apparently I have 8mm pelvic lymph nodes and a stenosis of my colon. Which they now want to perform at colonoscopy. I just want to get on with the show "radiation and chemo". Everything is moving way to slow for me, each step of the way requires approval on approval. I am only at the beginning but I want my life back now, not after it's approved.

Thank you everyone for your support and response to my rambling.

Worst Part
For me the testing and waiting for results was the worst part. My stress level was at an all time high. I did not sleep hardly any for two solid weeks prior to starting treatments. Once the treatments started I treated each day as my job. My stress level decreased 75% once treatments started. I understand about putting health before work. You probably do not need to focus on anything but making it through the treatment process. You do not need any other stress other than focusing on your treatments.
Mike

kirby77

mxperry220 said:

Worst Part
For me the testing and waiting for results was the worst part. My stress level was at an all time high. I did not sleep hardly any for two solid weeks prior to starting treatments. Once the treatments started I treated each day as my job. My stress level decreased 75% once treatments started. I understand about putting health before work. You probably do not need to focus on anything but making it through the treatment process. You do not need any other stress other than focusing on your treatments.
Mike

Thanks Mike
I appreciate the advice, and for acknowledging the waiting. All the consults and testing feel like a part time job, each taking hours of each day. I realize radiation, oncology appointments, labs, and chemotherapy are all time consuming. I am not sure how most combine it with working and the routines of life.

I just walked with my partner and dog for three blocks the first time in the past 2&1/2 weeks, it felt so good. I noticed that I am starting to get some symptoms of plantar fascitis from being off my feet all this time. I need to stretch and move or it will progress.

That's been my day(job) for today.

mp327

kirby77 said:

Thanks Mike
I appreciate the advice, and for acknowledging the waiting. All the consults and testing feel like a part time job, each taking hours of each day. I realize radiation, oncology appointments, labs, and chemotherapy are all time consuming. I am not sure how most combine it with working and the routines of life.

I just walked with my partner and dog for three blocks the first time in the past 2&1/2 weeks, it felt so good. I noticed that I am starting to get some symptoms of plantar fascitis from being off my feet all this time. I need to stretch and move or it will progress.

That's been my day(job) for today.

Hi Kirby--
We have all been in wait mode as you are now. I was diagnosed on June 18, 2008 and didn't start treatment until about 6 weeks later. Those were the longest 6 weeks of my life! I now realize that the doctors have to get all the necessary tests and scans before coming up with a treatment plan. That being said, it's still hard to wait! I also felt that until treatment began, I was doing nothing to fight the cancer and it was gaining ground. I hope you'll be able to begin your treatment soon. At that point, you will feel like you are finally doing something to get rid of the beast! Hang in there!

sandysp

It depends
I was told no one is exactly the same with this treatment. I have returned to one of my jobs and could have done it up until about the fourth or fifth week of treatment, but weeks 6-9 I don't think I could have done it. My other job, which is really draining, is still waiting for my return (it's 100% commission). I have a few days when I can visualize myself doing it now. It is a very draining job and once I commit, I am committed 24-7 for about six months or more although not like 9-5, but just like I need to be on top of things all the time.

I have had trouble with blood counts, but not everyone has this side affect. I also live in the nyc area and have a problem with my immune response to ozone and particulates, not to mention pollens, so I tend to get sick and have to go on prednisone which I like to avoid at all costs, if possible. I am married and we have been able to get by on one income, so I have been lucky to be able to stay in when the levels are "unhealthy for sensitive types", which I can observe first by my immune response and then by checking levels on Weather.com which keeps me from feeling like I have gone crazy or something since I can go from feeling well to feeling sick so quickly. Do you ever experience this phenomena? Keep hanging in there and posting with us. All the best, Sandy

kirby77

vette123 said:

working on treatment
Hi Kirby. I am 46 and was just diagnosed 4 1/2 weeks ago and this is the beginning of my 3rd week of treatment. I am still working. I too want to conserve my time off. Last week my mouth hurt very bad and I couldn't eat hardly anything. I am a nurse and having radiation treatments on my lunch break. I thus far have not had any problems working. I do get a little tired on and off through the day. I hear that things are to get worse before they get better. I am determined to get through as long as possible.I think you should be able to work at least in the beginning. Hope this helps get you started. Yvette

Vette123, were you able to continue to work?

I am feeling very guilty about not working and financially it is burdensome. I am wondering if you have been able to continue to work with radiation and now I presume your second round of chemo?

I know everyone is an individual in terms of response, I just wondered how it was going for you. I am also a nurse, and feel like I could not have performed my job in total over the last several weeks. The weeks after my first surgery excision of the mass, I had a bleed which required a repair(suture and ligation), complicated by almost 10 days of urinary retention. My mass was next to my prostate according to my surgeon. I had to tub bath to void and later sitz bath to void. Luckily, yesterday I saw a urologist who scoped me and said my prostate was swollen yet didn't appear to be cancerous.

Do you think I could return to work? My urinary retention has resolved. This is middle of week 2 for me, if I return, what are my chances of having to go back out on disabilty soon?
In my state you have to be disabled two weeks before you are eligible for state disability, it would reset my eligibility if I return.
I am risking too much by trying to return, when the worst is yet to come?

Cheyenne

kirby77 said:

Vette123, were you able to continue to work?

I am feeling very guilty about not working and financially it is burdensome. I am wondering if you have been able to continue to work with radiation and now I presume your second round of chemo?

I know everyone is an individual in terms of response, I just wondered how it was going for you. I am also a nurse, and feel like I could not have performed my job in total over the last several weeks. The weeks after my first surgery excision of the mass, I had a bleed which required a repair(suture and ligation), complicated by almost 10 days of urinary retention. My mass was next to my prostate according to my surgeon. I had to tub bath to void and later sitz bath to void. Luckily, yesterday I saw a urologist who scoped me and said my prostate was swollen yet didn't appear to be cancerous.

Do you think I could return to work? My urinary retention has resolved. This is middle of week 2 for me, if I return, what are my chances of having to go back out on disabilty soon?
In my state you have to be disabled two weeks before you are eligible for state disability, it would reset my eligibility if I return.
I am risking too much by trying to return, when the worst is yet to come?

Low blood count
The biggest risk for me was my low white blood cell count. I was told to avoid anyone that might have germs and to wash my hands frequently. As a nurse, that could be a big problem for you. I think the count dropped at the end of week 3 and remained pretty low for the remainder of treatment.

RoseC

Cheyenne said:

Low blood count
The biggest risk for me was my low white blood cell count. I was told to avoid anyone that might have germs and to wash my hands frequently. As a nurse, that could be a big problem for you. I think the count dropped at the end of week 3 and remained pretty low for the remainder of treatment.

Agree with Cheyenne
It probably wouldn't be a good idea for you to return to work. After three weeks of treatment your blood counts will most likely take a dive (it's called nadir) and stay that way for the duration of treatment and some weeks after. Being around sick people is really not a good idea. You may very well pick up something that your body's defenses won't be able to ward off.

sandysp

kirby77 said:

Thanks Mike
I appreciate the advice, and for acknowledging the waiting. All the consults and testing feel like a part time job, each taking hours of each day. I realize radiation, oncology appointments, labs, and chemotherapy are all time consuming. I am not sure how most combine it with working and the routines of life.

I just walked with my partner and dog for three blocks the first time in the past 2&1/2 weeks, it felt so good. I noticed that I am starting to get some symptoms of plantar fascitis from being off my feet all this time. I need to stretch and move or it will progress.

That's been my day(job) for today.

Ouch
I did Tai Chi and Chi Gong almost every day throughout treatments, etc. But I still had lots of trouble with my feet. I walked our dog most days. It is passing. The treatment poisoned us. My feet yelled at me mightily about that. I only have foot pain now when I travel, particularly airline travel. It is so much better now a year later. Hang in there.
Sandy