Returning to work

Hi PEB24

Don't worry about what others did we all react differently to treatment. Go back to work when you are ready. I finished treatment on the 6th November and I think it was the end of November that I went back. I have an office job so more mentally draining than physical but I do feel tired by the end of the day. My toilet habits aren't painful but they aren't normal yet. I've gone home early some days and I've yet to do a full week although if I'm honest that's more because I don't want to rather than I can't manage ( got to be some perks from this ). If you need to go back for financial reasons I get it, but if not I would wait until going to the toilet isn't painful and see if you can go back on a phased return basis maybe half days and build it up. Hope you have a good Christmas. Xx

I’m just coming towards the end of my treatment so I can’t comment on how it was for me but I do not intend to rush back to work. My oncologist said you need to double your treatment time at least for rehabilitation. If you can afford to stay off I would, build up your strength and recover a little more. It doesn’t matter what other people do - you’ve got to listen to your own body! 

Hello PEB24

Well I am not one of the others!  It took me several months to get back to normal (well a new normal) and five weeks after end of treatment your body is using all its energy in recovering from a very intensive course of treatment.  Please be really kind to yourself and just do what you can. 

I am really hoping that you aren't under any pressure to return to work, I would be looking to be signed off for quite a bit longer until you feel a lot better.

Gentle hug

Irene x

Hi PEB

Please don't put too much pressure on yourself to return to work too soon.. everyone is diffrent in their recovery..

I've been off for 3 months now and I don't start my treatment until 6th Jan..I'm hopefully going back to work mid April but I'm having open and honest chats with my boss to say I won't know how I feel until march time.. and when I do go back it will be phased.. mine is office based so nothing physical but very mentally draing so need to make so that we are ready for being in the thick of things again..

I do hope your work is being understanding..

Sending lots of virtual hugs

Hi PEB24 , 

I think returning to work following treatment is a very individual thing. Personally I managed to go back on a phased return a little over 5 weeks post treatment but as I say it’s a very individual process. If you feel that you’re still suffering with high levels of fatigue then I’d give it a little longer & see if you can speak with your employer about a phased return for when you feel a little better. 

Nicola 

Hi Bungle,

Thank you so much for your kind reply and words of wisdom. So greatly appreciated. Apologies for the very late response but the pressures of Christmas became a bit overwhelming and couldn’t seem to organise myself at all.

 I had been expecting to feel better than I did and was awed that you had managed to get back to the gym! So impressed by that and I sincerely hope that your recovery is going well. I have managed to negotiate carrying over some unused leave so have another couple of weeks which is an enormous relief. I am normally quite an active person so this feeling of exhaustion has been quite challenging and hopefully will improve. 

Wishing you well for your recovery and for a very happy and healthy 2025. X

Hi Sqeak,

Thank you for your helpful reply. As I mentioned apologies for late response.

Absolutely wishing you well for your upcoming treatment journey. I am so fortunate to be post treatment but wonder if that’s when the emotional impact hits most. It’s all quite overwhelming isn’t it.

I am thankful to have been able to delay my return to work by a couple of weeks and certainly hope to feel a bit more’ new normal’ by then!

wishing you well for 6th and for 2025 xx

Hi Irene,

You are such a constant source of support and wisdom on this forum and huge thanks to you for your ongoing kindness.

Thank you so very much for your advice. I think it’s a strange time when the treatment ends and there is perhaps an expectation from others that’ that’s it’ now when actually the side effects are at their worst at least for 3 weeks of waddling around and tears on the loo!

I had been in a panic wondering how I would make it through the working day with the tiredness and very limited toilet facilities. I now have another couple of weeks by taking leave so I can’t begin to say how relieved I am.

I am sure you are right about the body’s resources going into healing and hope that energy levels will return soon.

Many thanks for your always helpful advice and support. Wishing you very good health and all things good for 2025 xx

Hi Heather,

Thank you for your helpful guidance.

My oncologist didn’t really discuss work with me and I didn’t think to bring it up in my appointment which was 2 weeks post treatment ending. 
I will get back but just think it’s going to take a bit longer than I expected

Maybe age has something to do with it! 
Thankfully I have been able to take some leave prior to going back and the relief is indescribable.

wishing you all the best for your own recovery journey and for a less eventful 2025 xx

Hi PEB24

Glad you have sorted some more time off. You say you negotiated carrying holiday across, just wanted to make sure you knew that your employer has to allow you to do that if you've been on long term sick which is 4 weeks or more and your works year has finished you can carry 4 holiday weeks across and have 18 months to use it. As for me and the gym it's my happy place i would have crawled back if i had to. Xx