I have an appointment with occupational Health well it's today seeing as it's ,3.05am re the possibility of me returning to work
I honestly don't know how or if I'll manage but let's see what they say,
A bit about me, diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma stage 3, 27/12/23 and Breast cancer her + stage 3 on 1/2/24 ye tell me about it totally 
, started Immunochemotherapy end of Feb 24 3 long sessions which finished march 24, I worked through those, Lobectomy upper right scheduled to be admitted to hospital 1/5/24@4pm I worked in the morn
g till 12.30! Surgery done on 2/5/24 spent a week in hospital including my birthday 
home to recooperate
I'm on endocrine medication to stop the breast cancer growing and now I'm going for a right upper lumpectomy 29/8/24 overnight stay due to previous medical history then back home to recooperate, biopsy sent to America erm a oncotype DX if results over 20 you gotta have chemo.....guess what mines 33!!!! 6 rounds of chemo ,3 of EC 3 of Docatexal that started 28/11/24 and ended 13/5/25 that totally battered me, the Docatexal left me with neuropathy in hands and feet excruciating pain, sore mouth, streaming eyes, vomiting, diarrhoea, my fingers nails fell off , shin peeled of feet lost loads weight lost my hair, but my friends stood by me in the most amazing way and are now more like sisters than friends
WORK however I work for the NHS have been pretty awful, no check ins oh random ones, they ask my friends at work if I'm ok
I have occupational health today I am anxious about going back because I am not the same person, cancer has changed me, what if I can't cope
Any advice from others in same position, I have been off for 20 months!
Thanks
hi Fr3nchvik
I have found many people actually find occupational health rather more supportive than they might expect, certainly that had been my expereince too. Having been off for 20 months I would be surprised if they did not talk about a pased return - so part time possibly reduced duties to allow you to ease back into work if that is what you want.
One thing people sometimes talk about is medical retirement, this does happen but requires quite a lot of work since the penson service will also get involved. Having been medically retired if can be quite diffiuclt to find any form of work in the future.
You might like to look at Making decisions about work after treatment
<<hugs>>
Steve
Hi Fr3nchvik
Hope the appointment went well.
As you say some colleagues are already working hybrid then it would seem fairly straitforward to get that as a reasonable adjustment. One of the few benefits of cancer is that it automatically qualifies as a disability under the equality act 2010 and so you should be in a very good position on that front.
<<hugs>>
Steve
