Breast cancer

Hello

After my operation I was told that it would be ok to work during radiotherapy, if treatment times worked in favour for me. But by the time I begun I was shielding anyway, so I wasn't in work. (YrR in an Infant school)

I had radiotherapy in April/May - 15 sessions over 4 weeks. 

All of the lovely staff were telling me about session 10 and how I'd feel .

Session 11 came and i was exhausted... and the feelings carried on until early June. Plus I had 3 radiation 'burns' (for want of a better term) under my breast, against the new scars and on my upper chest and throat. These were itchy, very sore, very hot and I wouldn't have wanted to work with them. I must admit that the burns appeared after my last session, which to me was good as they would of probably stopped the treatment until my skin settled. But the tiredness overwhelmed me. 

I expect others might tell you they had no side effects, and what I had wasn't the norm. But personally i think its tricky to say until you're nearer the time.

Wishing you a speedy recovery

Hi , this is a hard question and the only people who can give you an informed answer is your medical team or your GP. 

As the official shielding is coming to an end it will be up to your employer to risk assess you coming back to work and make all reasonable arrangements for you to return and you can ask to see their Risk Assessment showing their assessment.

You could call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 and talk with the Work Guidance Team mostly open 8.00 to 8.00

Thank you for your reply   ,its a tricky one as ssp is paid after august for me so there is a bit of pressure to go back plus I've been sick since January and working in the private sector so I  will take your advice re risk assessment in place at work and also check with gp.

Hi,I hope you feel better now,I understand what you are saying,everything is so unpredictable so u cant really set  date until treatment finished. 

I wanted redundancy but not given so I'll have to wait and see, chemo was hard for me at times so hoping radiotherapy will be ok ,so used to being a bit battered now .lol