Chemo brain

Hi Rich_Col I have had completely different chemo drugs so it’s not comparing like with like…… but you can do this by also putting the same post up in the Bowel (colon and rectum) cancer group.

I had very strong chemo and the one main issue was it obliterated my immune system so if I had still been working (teaching) I would not have been able to do this due to the infection risks.

As for Chemo Brain….. at time I was so bad I had to stop driving as my reactions were significantly reduced making it unsafe for me to drive

Hi Mike,

Thanks for sharing your dramatic story 

I am new to this world and am awed by so many stories of resilience.

Yeah, I think the dosages and strengths of our treatments are different which makes me a bit of a light weight compared to you 

Will ask around more.

Once again, many thanks,

Rich

Hi Mike, I hope you’re doing OK today. I was interested in your post as I’m also a teacher and am about to start 6 months of capecitabine. I have been off work since the end of January for surgery and have recovered well but now I know I’m probably unable to go back to work after Easter as I had hoped. 

I assume the  infection risk is too great to work in a school environment but a nurse did say to me that I would be OK as long as the window was open! Not sure how I feel about that… 

I know the other side effects might mean I am unable to work but I wonder if you have been given any advice specifically about working in schools during chemo? 

thanks, Nicci 

Hi Nicki Mlle A ……. it’s a significant challenge. As I said above I was retired before my Lymphoma kick off……  my story is a rather complicated 25 years journey (See my story)

I was actually diagnosed with my first type of Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma back in 1999 when I was 44…… and continued to work in lecturing in FE on a full time table…….. even although I was having regular treatments. 

I was able to arrange my treatments 2-3 times a week for about 15-20 weeks each year to fit in with my non-contact time.

Occupational Health was brought in to assess me as I worked half the week in a training (joinery) workshop and due to my rare skin Lymphoma it was found that the dust extraction system was not adequate for normal circumstances…… let alone for me…… so a complete new system was put in!!!!

I was also on targeted drugs that did reduce my immune system but not to the extent as chemo…… so Occupational Health recommended I was given the largest class room for teaching sessions.

The room was reorganised to put the desk etc near the window and air conditioning unit was installed in the nearest window but with a room of 16 snotty nosed teenagers there was always someone sneezing…… on average I had a few cold and the flu once a year…… I was getting my flu vaccine every year even when I was only 44….

But being on chemo is a different story.

Hi.

Slightly different situation here. I work as a receptionist in a doctor's surgery and my oncologist simply said no when I queried working while having chemo, the infection risk is just too high. 

H