Just beginning this journey

I am, like you, in education.  My initial tests began in December 2011.  In January 2012 I was told I had breast cancer.  Like you, I had no idea how much time I would need away from work.  At the start, I was thinking solely about post-surgery (had a double mastectomy).  Although I was told at the outset that I could be up and around in about four weeks' time, reality had it not be that way at all.  (I am not in the wimpy category . . .  ).  Surgery had revealed there to be more challenges, which slowed my healing.  Then the pathology reports indicated I needed to do more than have radiation therapy and hormonal therapy.  Being the "toughie" I was, I thought that in a two-week period of time, I could work at school seven days.  Reality proved different, not that I was nauseated from the chemo, but I had a few queasy days with the first four rounds and then I had some other issues for a few days with the last four rounds.  Because I worked with young kids who loved to come up and give hugs and such -- and parents often would send kids to school who were sick -- my oncologist recommended that I not work.  So, in the month between my surgery and then began chemo, I spent my time healing as well as getting my port put in.

I was out of school from mid-February to the end of the school year. 

When school resumed in September, I was half way through radiation therapy.  I went to school half days, until I had some issues with burning.  I think that I ended up taking full days off for about two weeks.  In mid-October, I resumed a full schedule. 

I had enough sick days saved up that I only came up a week short for that large portion of time.  When school began that September, I enrolled in our union's sick bank, and they covered what days I needed beyond what I normally get.

I did pop down to school a few times when I was out; but I believe it was smart to stay out.  My bloodwork numbers were always good, and so I am not sure how susceptible I might have been to others' germs, but I opted to play it safe because I wanted to stay on schedule for everything, which I did.

Hope this info helps.

e

BTW:  If I had had a different kind of job (like an office or such), I think I would have  been able to work some.  As it was, I did not hole myself up in the house.

Jamie1.3cm said:

Ongoing battle

Thanks, CC. I hate it that you've had to fight this battle over and over again.

hormone therapy is another term I've heard. Her2 negative, but hormone responsive.

Were you able to keep working while you were on chemo?

Hormone therapy is kind of a confusing term.  If your tumor has estrogen receptors (ER+), that opens up your options to what is called hormone therapy.  ER+ means your tumor is fueled by estrogen and certain medications can block the tumor's ability to use estrogen (tamoxifen) or lower estrogen levels (arimidex, femara or aromasin).  The latter drugs are usually recommended for postmenopausal women.

Although these drugs have some side effects, to me, the effects are manageable. 

My first round of chemo was in 1987 and I worked until this year.  I was much sicker with the liver mets and the second round of chemo hit me hard, but I was sick before I started with loss of appetite, nausea and terrible heartburn.  My oncologist told me I needed to seriously think about going out on disability this time.  I had a hard time with the decision at first, but I am beginning to move on and even enjoy the idea.

Although my story sounds awful, I have many good days and I enjoy my family and friends.  Life is good for me.  Bad days and good days, but I am happy to be here. Hang in there!

cinnamonsmile said:

 I can't speak to chemo

 I can't speak to chemo and/or rads because I didn't have them. But I did have a double mastectomy with lymph node removal on the cancer side, and sentinel nodes removed on both sides.

Like Tracy said, no one comes out of treatment the same. Some heal fantastically well, some don't. I am one that didn't. I have severe nerve damage from the BMX with node removal and bilateral lymphedema. My pain is so severe, I am on mulitple medications and treatments. I spent about 5 months in OT getting myofascial release for severe scar tissue adhesions.

 

I am not saying that you will get and surgical side effects, but I do want you to know that they can happen. At least this way, if you experience any extreme pain/swelling etc, you will know that there are others out here who have been through it and understand. And should something happen, you may remember in the back of your mind that you heard x and y symptoms some where...

You will hear about so and so who came to work every day and how well she tolerated all the treatments and that it's all a matter of attitude.  It isn't.  We're all different and how you react will be unique to you.  And you're still healing from your kidney cancer.  Our bodies take a while to fully recover even if you think you feel fine.  Sure attitude helps, but so and so simply had an easier time (or less chemo or even no chemo). 

I had only 4 sessions of chemo and I could have worked through the first three (if I had a non-strenuous job), but I was so happy I was retired and could spend those days like a princess, letting my body heal and recuperate.  I don't know how I would have done it if I had actually had to go to work.  Maybe not so good.  The last cycle there was no way I could have worked at anything.  It knocked the socks off me.  As a teacher, you will be exposed to all sorts of germs when your immune system is at its lowest.  If at all possible, it might be a good idea for you to plan not to be working at least during chemo and after surgery.  Two pretty doggone good reasons - you need to recuperate and you don't need to catch anything.

Lots of luck to you.  Having had 2 primary carncers myself, I know it can be overwhelming.  We're here as needed. 

Suzanne

Jamie1.3cm said:

Thanks Suzanne and Cinnamon. I'm starting to get an idea of the range of responses I might have. That makes planning hard! Another hard thing: waiting for the next tests that will inform the oncologist about how much chemo I'll need. The range seems to be everything from a few weeks to a few months! Again, hard to plan until that is known.

suggestions? My doc mentioned a few things she wanted done before thanksgiving, but added tha she wouldn't be in town this week, but that would be ok because he colleagues will take care of everything. So I expected a call from her office today, starting to line things up (pet scan, breast MRI, and port put in.) Well, no call. I kinda need to know about these things before they happen! Isn't eating restricted before the pet scan (no sugars), the day before? Jeez, there's not much time left "before thanksgiving."

maybe that was just optimistic on her part?

Jamie,

This is definitely a generalization, but if it helps:  To the best of my knowledge, in general, the minimum number of chemo rounds for breast cancer is 4, usually given 3 weeks apart. 

There are definitely women who receive 6 rounds, 8 rounds, or more, depending on the specifics of their diagnosis, and there are some less common chemo regimens that may compress the 3 weeks into shorter intervals -- but, just to start with for general planning purposes, you may want to use 12ish weeks as your baseline.

Traci