Returning to work after AML and a stem cell transplant as a teacher

Hi  and welcome to the Community, I am Mike Thehighlander and I help out around our blood cancer groups. I have NHL so rather different from AML but have had 2 Allo (donor) SCTs June 2014 and Oct 2015.

I retired early from lecturing in an Further Education College, this was 2 1/2 years before my condition (diagnosed in 1999) became aggressive...... I honestly say that I could not have returned back to teaching for a good year and a half after my second SCT if I had still been in education.

The main issue you face is infection risk, you don’t say when your SCT was but your vaccinations most likely won’t start until a year post SCT...... and as you are still on immunosuppressants I assume you are within a 100 days post SCT...... you have some way before your new immune system kicks back in...... and let’s face it - schools at the best of times are infection machines.... not allowing for COVID risks.

Have you access to Occupational Health and your Union as you do need all the advise you can get.

In my first 2 year post my second Allo SCT I was 5 times back in hospital (31 days) with Chest Infections, Lung Fungal Infections, the RSV Virus, Pneumonia x2, Sepsis x2, A Fib and three months of low blood counts caused by GvHD so regular blood transfusions every week and GvHD of the skin.

We actually have a dedicated Stem cell transplant group so you could post in there as well.

It’s always good to talk so do call the Macmillan Support Services on 0808 808 00 00 - most services are open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week Clicking here to see what is available. This service can give lots of information, support, financial guidance or just a listening ear. We also have our Ask an Expert section, but do allow two working days for replies from our expert team.

Happy to talk more.

Many thanks for your reply.  My SCT was November 2019 and diagnosis of AML June 2019.  I'm still on ciclosporin and GVhd flare ups in my skin and gut each time they reduce the dose, so the process has been very slow.  I do have fatigue and can have a short attention span with work. My union rep has been supportive but no one at my work has dealt with such long term sick leave before and my headteacher tends to pressure and rush checklists that suit him, rather than listening to the problem of school being high infection risk for me on medical advice, despite the medical paperwork provided included an occ health report at his request.  I don't want to try to claim medical retirement because I'm 44 and want to teach again when I'm medically approved to do so.  How would you have gone about a return to work if you'd still been working?  many thanks for your reply.  I'll also try the SCT group. 

Wow, you have been on the evil Immunosuppressants this amount of time

I jumped at 55 years old, I was refused medical retirement as my condition was not seen as ‘life threatening enough!!!!!’.... when a few years later my second SCT just about killed me.

You can hit my community name to see the long story but safe to say I would not have been in any fit state to return to my post even if I had had to do it. I was teaching in construction and this meant 3hr sessions of practical on workshops using some very dangerous machines.

It sounds like you, like others who go through SCT and are navigating return to work can find it so hard as many employers have not came across such a complicated challenge...... especially as you are protected under disability legislation.

Macmillan Support Services on 0808 808 00 00 - most services are open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week Clicking here have specialist advisers in all this financial and work.

Yes I'm looking forward to life without the big grey smelly tablets that are hard to swallow and each decrease makes gvhd flare up, so the dose is going up and down.  This next attempt may be the one!