Working during treatment?

It's do-able. Really depends on your health. When I was initially dx'd at age 42, I would go to work with my pump on. For the 12 doses of Folfox, I don't think I missed a day. This time around at age 51, I get my chemo done on Wednesdays (tomorrow), I'll stop by my office on the way home and work for a few hours. Thursday and Friday I'll go to work and work at least a half day, next week I'll work a full 40 and then some. I'm tired when I work, but hey, who's not:)

Buster..

My husband also has worked since his stage 4 diagnosis last August.   He had chemo every other Friday and would just take that Friday off - and leave early the Thursday before for blood work.  He took a couple of months off for his resection and is now waiting for the ileostomy reversal and will take some more time for that.   Hopefully your co-workers will step up and help you out.

my husband was diagnosed in 2008 with stage 4 - other than surgery and recovery, and the occasional sick day - he worked close to 90 hours a week, commuting back and forth to work an hour and half both ways.  They eventually let him work at home, but that did not stop the long days.  this went on for at least 3 years.  then one day, they let him go (which was going on alot in his business - he worked at a bank as a network engineer), he went on disability and has been on it for the last year. He calls it retirement, because he worked for this bank for 27 years.  He is enjoying his retirement, but only wished it was because he was retired and not sick.  But working during treatement is do-able.  but like someone else said - everyone reacts differently and i would wait until at least your third treatment to determine how you are going to feel.  First two you should be able to do everything you did before, by the third you will know how you are going to feel.

Good Luck

sandi

db8ne1 said:

Everone is Different...

It sounds like you may be getting daily radiation and daily chemo?  You didn't indicate your regimen exactly.

I had six weeks of week/day daily radiation and carried around around a pump filled with 5FU (again 5 days per week). I got hooked up to the pump (through a power port surgically implanted in my chest) on Mondays and disconnected on Fridays.  No big deal - but showering was kind of a pain.  Some people take the oral form (Xeloda).  It is my understanding that the body has to metabolize this and turn it into 5FU (?) so the side effects may be different.  Either way the chemo helps increase the efficacy of the radiation.  The goal is to shrink the tumor prior to surgery.  My chemo/rad was successful.  Tumor (and at least 1 suspicious lymph node) was completely iradicated.  Surgery to remove previous tumor (now being called an "ulcer") and 10 inches of colon and 15 lymph nodes went textbook well.

As for work:  I had early morning rads every day and went to work following my appointments.  Worked full time in the office - except for the last week when I did some of the work from home due to very frequent and uncomfortable trips to the bathroom.  Then it took a couple of weeks for the side effects to improve - although I still worked full time.

Anyway, everyone reacts differently to treatment.  So, I guess the moral of the story is be prepared and have a plan b (and c).  Check back here often for questions and advice (along with your doc's of course).  The folks on this site are very caring, compassionate, and full of good info.

Best,

Jenni

I worked through the chemo. Radiation may make you really tired though.    I had to save my FMLA for surgeries.  Keep in mind you may have ca SDI, so your pay is decent.  I made the mistake of working then losing my job. Losing my LTD and life insurance.  Noes I have a pre existing with new employer so I am going back to my old job and stating I had LTD when diagnosed.  There are many things to think about.  If you have STD and LTD may be good to stay Out. Not sure if you qualify for FMLA/CFRA.  There is also cancer accommodation safe guards when you run out of FMLA.   Questions, please ask or send me a message   

You really have to go with your gut feelings, I don't like giving direct advice but I will answer questions.   Everyone is different, treatments are different and since we don't know specifics,  It's best that you ask the questions with your situation in mind. 

 Keep in mind. I had a great employer too until diagnosed.  They didn't accommodate and suddenly I wasn't doing my job.   Be careful what you share.   

Many people can work during this process. Its depend on what kind of work you do because you may feel tired during this process. Your doctor will advise you to time off the work or not and it depends on how you feel. Some people manage to go to hospital to have chemo then go on to work. if you need to spend time in hospital then you have to time off work.

JuanitaFrapp said:

 
Hello Sooker,
 
I would

 

Hello Sooker,

 

I would like to suggest you better take a leave for office and take rest at home. Might be your job is an easy task to do but as per the doctors suggestions you should take rest after the some sort of medications better than working. You might be feeling fit, it depends on your ability to do that task you will do or else you left it. If you’re really interested to work on. I know people who love working they don’t like to sit ideal at home. Even my father is a retired employee still he loves to do job. After we restricted him to not to work but he don’t listen my words I suggest to my father instead of doing job do some physical exercise as per your body supports like lite walking, swimming. Now he left the job daily he going for morning walk and spent some time with his friends. Now I would like to suggest you same to follow the same way as my dad done.

 

How are you? Thinking about you. 

I would get chemo on Wednesday so I wouldn't go in that day.  I have a desk job too.  Thursday's I would go in and then Friday's when I got unhooked, I wouldn't go in that day either.  I had to use vacation the time I was out so that sucked.  After my 7th session, it was getting harder so I went out on short term disability.