Treatments and working

Hi Carrie !

If you can afford to, don't work ... unless you find a lot of pleasure out of it, and it doesn't sound like it ! You need all your energy for your body to heal properly. Exhaustion is the first message your body sends you when you are overdoing it. If you don't pay attention to this first message, it will get your attention in a more dramatic way, you might come down with the flue, or something else.

Maybe you also need that time for you, to think about what you want to do different in the next few years. Most of us who have been through this have changed our lifestyles : it may be finding the foods right for you (see Lola's post), it might be spending more "quality time" with your kids, or exercising, or having just more fun generally speaking... Those decisions take time, and it is good to take that time. I just read an article explaining that most illnesses, and especially cancers, have 3 main causes : poor diet, stress levels too high, and lack of exercise (the body doesn't eliminate toxins as fast as it should). Certainly you must do everything possible to reduce your stress level. Don't feel guilty about not working. Enjoy your time off, enjoy your kids !

Big hugs,
Cathy, who used to be a workaholic

Hi Carrie:
I'd vote NO to working, in general, unless it's absolutely financially necessary.

When I was diagnosed, I finished up projects which I was working on and took on nothing new. I knew I needed my strength and focus for the upcoming surgery and treatments. For
me, this was the best decision. Initially, dealing with cancer and the decisions I had to make, left no room for work related distractions. My plan was to resume working when I felt up to it. To date, I haven't.
After two surgeries, chemo and currently still having radiation, I haven't the mental
desire yet. With only one week of radiation remaining I am beginning to think about resuming work. I'm giving myself 6 weeks to
recover and then see how I feel about it.

Throughout chemo and radiation, I've needed
a rest period/nap every afternoon. I've remained fairly active throughout but couldn't have coped with the pressures of deadlines and/or having to be someplace at a particular time and not able to rest when I needed it. Mostly, I didn't want to become over tired from work demands and have nothing left for my family. Quality time with them has always been a priority for me. Not working and being able to get plenty of rest has worked well. I can go shopping, out to lunch/dinner with a friend, to a movie, my son's soccer games or fix up a great little dinner at home and not become exhausted or miserable.

We're all different in what's going to work for us depending upon our individual needs and how treatment effects us. I've found that the more kind and gentle I can treat myself, the more I have left to share with those in my life who matter most. If someone told me tomorrow that this would be my last day on earth, I'd not change a thing.
That's how I know I've made the right choices for myself. If working enhances your life and you're able to do it, then by all means, work. If you try it and it isn't working, then by all means, make a change to something which may work better. Trial and error. That little feeling inside will tell you when it's right! Trust it.

Stay well.

Love, light and laughter,
Inkblot

working

I could not do it.  I am constantly tired.  When it hits me I have to go down.  I have too many physical symptoms that I know I cannot deal with and a job at the same time.  I have chemo brain and that will do me no good in the office.  I know I have to heal before I decide to work or not anymore. 

I wish you the best

annie