Bye cancer, back to work.

Hi ,

Very pleased all your treatment is over now. I lost my job as a home help so I can’t help on the returning to work thing, however I do know a few ppl who did a phased returned and said it worked really well.

Wishing you much luck x x

Hi!  

I've just gone back to work too.. I am doing a phased return and I am pleased that I have.  I still get pretty tired.  I am a teacher so it was quite easy for me to do this.  My work collegues have been lovely.   It is great being back to  work, but just be mindful of the fact that you do need to be gentle to yourself, that is all I can say.  It will take you time to get back to full speed!  I am doing OK   ( I think!) but I need my sleep much more than ever before...

Good luck, let us know how you get on, 

Love Sukki. xx

I've just started my phased return after being off work for 16 months which had to be delayed after I did the first week because of an infected cyst. My phased return is in small increments so I'm only doing 3.5 hours for a couple of days then for 3 days and so on but each week is duplicated and I'm allowed to work from home some days to save travelling 40 minutes each way on the train. My employer and their insurance company have been very supportive. It's scary going back but make sure you work out a phased return you all agree on that is not too tiring and make sure the plan is reviewed after each week. I have a weekly telephone call with my employers HR department and the Insurance company. I have however started to worry that I don't want to get back to the stress of it all and the busy days I used to be able to cope with after being off for so long. Make sure you are honest with yourself and your employers and make sure you have your say as to what you want. They have to support you with everything physically and emotionally. I just wish I could now have a change of career and something closer to home, but unfortunately a job closer to home and less stressful just won't pay the salary I'm on now. Hope it goes well for you.xx

Thank you Sukki. I’m a HLTA in a school, have just agreed my phased return with my headteacher. Fingers crossed all goes well. 
xx

Thank you for your reply xxx

Hi Sukki

This is my first post on here so hope I get on ok!

I am also a teacher (primary) and started back to work after Xmas on phased return for 2 weeks. I only work three days a week. After the first week I found the expectations far too high as I couldn't get back to my normal teaching/deputy role which was expected after 2 weeks. I ended up being signed off again. 

I really want to get back to work but very anxious now. I was just wondering what your phased return is like to see if it can help when I go back. I've been signed off till half term and really not sure what will happen after that.

Any advice greatly received. 

Thanks. Fifi123

Good morning, 

Everyone has been so lovely at work to me. when I went if for my ‘informal chat’ I think they thought I would be back every morning. 
I had a chat with my oncologist who was really supportive at said that would be way to much. She has wrote a letter just confirming all the treatment I have received and I need a very slow return. 
So now it’s 3 mornings, but then it’s half term. 
I’m getting so anxious about it all and overthinking it. 
I’ve not been much help, sorry. 
xxxxxz

I guess I'm worried that a lot will be expected of me and I won't be able to say no. I really wish I could just give up work altogether now I've started back but that won't pay the mortgage. I work for a solicitors as a paralegal. My boss said the other day, you haven't got to worry yet about going to court or talking with clients, but I know that day will come. I think anxiety is normal as I have it a lot xxx 

That’s how I feel, yes always comes out of my mouth when in my head I’m saying no. 
I never used to feel anxious but now it’s liked it’s perched on my shoulder. I’ve been told that this is normal, whatever normal is for us now. 
sending love  

Not sure I'll ever get back to normal. Sending love back. Good luck. Xxx