Returning to work after cancer
Some of us choose to work right through our treatment for cancer, while others will find themselves on certified sick leave for a period of time. This may be of a few months duration, or a year or two, depending on the type of treatment received, stage of disease or emotional and psychological issues. My treatment necessitated almost a year off work, and I have to admit that it was a welcome break from the routine and hum-drum existence of the daily working day. I relished the time off to pursue meditation and yoga classes, to read, to walk, to meet up with friends – all those things that work got in the way of!
I struggled with my decision to go back to my old job. My heart told me it was time for a change of career, to live a life more aligned with the lessons I had learned from cancer, but alas my bank statements told another story. The reality of meeting mortgage payments and other bills, took over from my wishful fantasties of living another life. That is why I admire those who have the courage to ignore the bank statements and get out there and live a transformed life. I wrote a piece recently on Pasha Hogan, a breast cancer survivor who inspires me because she did just that, turning her back on her executive stressed life-style.
Many welcome a return to work as a return to normality, pay-checks, company, sense of identity and other factors. For me, I found it was tough going back to work. I struggled to fit in again, struggled to concentrate on tasks, hampered by my “chemo-brain” and unrelenting fatigue. I know that I am not alone in experiencing this. A study carried out by Loughborough University examines the role of depression in returning to work after a period of sickness absence across four types of chronic illnesses: depression and anxiety, back pain, heart disease and cancer.
The report shows that almost half (45%) of those with a physical condition experienced mild to moderate depression, but were more worried about telling their employer about their mental health issues than their cancer or heart disease. Despite the fact that depression impacted on their well-being and ability to function at work, most felt unable to tell their line managers about the difficulties they were facing.
The study found that for some, returning to work after a prolonged illness, may result in poor coping skills and interpersonal relations at work and its recommendations include putting in place a return to work rehabilitation programme, stress management programmes and a colleague – buddy system.
It is a detailed and comprehensive report and for those who are interested, it can be downloaded as a pdf from the Mental Health Foundation, UK.
Click here to download
So how about you? What was your experience of returning to work like? Or did you choose to take a different career path as a result of your cancer experience. I would love to hear your stories……
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am happy to say I had the luxury of not returning to a job that I realised was not for me anymore – cancer liberated me from living a life that wasn’t true to me anymore – go on have some courage and live the life you want – as we know – life is too short to compromise!
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Raine, I am with you that one – I couldn’t bear to return to the old boring existence in a 9-5 office with petty office politics and bitching – so I ditched the job – yes, it wasn’t an easy decision financially but boy was it a no-brainer psychologically.
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😦 i didn’t feel i was in a financially sound position to do what the other 2 commentators could do. I am a single girl with a crippling mortgage so I had no choice but to go back to work. I wish it was otherwise. I am back 2 months now and I think it’s making me ill with stress and unhappiness. I agree that employers need to have a plan in place to help those of us who return to work after a long illness
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thanks so much for posting this – i am due to return to work in a month’s time and this post has given me food for thought. I think i will approach my supervisor with some of the suggestions in the downloadable document. I think your blog is fantastic – i have learned so much and feel more prepared for some of the things that i am facing post treatment. Keep up the good work!
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It was a learning experience. I’d never had any kind of surgery and didn’t realize I might need a day off after my first attempt at breast-conserving surgery, which I had on a Friday. I was pooped that following Monday. I got smart after my second attempt and took Monday off.
I took two weeks off for the mastectomy/immediate first stage reconstruction, followed by two weeks part time, and I needed it. I felt kind of sheepish about asking for part time but my workplace was great, and a friend at work who had been through the same thing advised me to do it. I didn’t realize how tired I’d be, or how uncomfortable it can be just to sit in a chair. Thank goodness for the friends who’ve been there, and thank goodness for posts like this one! Thank you!
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Thanks for sharing your experience with us. It is so tiring – I certainly agree!
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This is such an interesting post – I was out of my office for exactly 9 months, as I had worked remotely (too much risk of infection in a very large office). I had actually really enjoyed much of working from home – a lovely environment, ability to take a nap when tired, listen to music if I wanted to etc. I found it a really difficult step to go back to work, just the thought of physically walking into the office, eyes on me and how much I had changed (I was still wearing my head scarf). Of course everyone was wonderfully supportive, the problem was me, and I was very emotional.
In the longer term, I have found that I am more careful to ensure a sensible work/life balance – and of course it is now easier to make a point of balancing work hours.
Great food for thought – thanks again Marie for a really interesting post. Lots of thoughts provoked 😉
P
xx
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And thank YOU Philippa for such a thoughful reply x
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I had a mastectomy and have one more treatment of chemo. Ive had 4 treatments of Adriamiacin and 4 taxteer. It leaves me with muscle pain and when i try to go out i get short of breath. i must return to work in about a month. I work in a grocery store and it is a very physical job. i was wondering if anyone might have an idea on how long these side affects last? im worried that i wont be able to my job.
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Hi, I had 3 treatments of FEC and 3 taxotere. The major side effects should start wearing off pretty soon but you won’t feel 100 % for quite some time after that. A month after my chemo I had 25 treatments of radiation so that had some effect on my overall wellness but still even without the radiation you will need at least couple of months before you’ll be ready to return back to work. My treatments finished at the end of February and I am getting ready to start in July and I am still not quite sure about the transition. I hope I adjust quite easy. Good luck to you.
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Thank you so much for writing about this, I feel very much the same, am struggling so much with a RTW, and find that even within the medical community, there is little understanding about the process. With some people, and within some work environments, it is not always so straightforward, or easy. And there truly needs to be more recognition that cancer is not simply a physical disease.
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Hello and welcome to the discussion. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I agree that there is just not enough written about this subject, and your comment has prompted me to revisit the topic again in a more up to date post – so stay tuned!
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I’ve been in a job for 10 years. I loved that job, but now after my treatment finished for Breast Cancer in April, I’ve struggled to get back.Now I know, I don’t love it any more.Even doing 16 hours. What do I do? I’ve a mortgage and a son that starts school.
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Shawna, I too am a teacher. My treatment ended in July. I am trying to exercise, eat well and gain my strength back but admit that I have days of it just being too hard. I lost the hearing in my right ear from the chemo so I wonder if I can go back to teaching at all. Then some teacher friends suggested I try subbing to see how it feels. I spent some time in the classroom to see what I felt and it was awesome. All my fears went away and my strength was back just being around the kids again. I am not sure how I will do with a full day but for now I can tell you it helped to just visit. Good luck to you. I totally get it.:)
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I find that there has not been any support after treatment. I had intense chemo and radiation and have been off work for a year. I am due to go back to teaching grade 2 and am quite worried as I still feel tired, weak and very foggy brain even though my treatment ended on June 6. In theory I should be ready to go back to work. but I know that emotionally and physically I am not ready. I would like to ask for 4 more months off to rest and really get healthy. I am worrried about being hassled by the insurance companies. Any thouhgts? I really appreciate finding this and appreciate all of your thoughts!!!I really do love my job but dont feel ready yet. so little support after treatment is over!
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I’ve now been signed off for 1 month after various attempts to go back. Had a few fits (Tamoxifen doesn’t increase fits) and so v v tired. Now people think that I’m much happier and look well. Does anybody else have this? Are us ex-breast patients better off having more time off to gain confidence and energy?
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I had triple neg. breast cancer. I had a double mastectomy, chemo, radiation, and reconstruction plus therapy. I have been off work for 1 1/2 years. My job title is CNA Certified Nursing Assistant because I had some lymph nodes taken out I can no longer do that job. It require lifting which I have a restriction of 15 lbs with my left arm. It is very stressful looking for a job that require experiences that I do not have.
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