Colorectal cancer

Hi  and a warm welcome to the board from me. Obviously you would need to be guided by your oncologists advice on this but the chemo tablets that you take alongside your radiotherapy is a lower doseage than ‘normal’ chemo. It is taken to enhance the effect of the radiotherapy so is a milder form than say that given as follow-up chemo post op. Chemo does lower your immunity but I would not think that it would leave you with no immune system.

Could you give your colorectal support nurse a ring for advice or the support nurses on here? They’re available every day from 8-8 on 0808 808 00 00

If they’re happy for you to carry on working and you feel ok then I would go for it. I worked through my treatment and found it made my life feel a bit more ‘normal’ and a great distraction.

Im glad you’ve joined us here. Being strong and positive is great but everyone’s entitled to a little wobble now and again so here’s a virtual hug (hope that doesn’t make you cry again) and remember that we’re here and happy to support you through this

Take care

Karen x

Thank you kareno62 for your kind words. Yes it made me tearful but I think that’s months of not crying.  When I first saw my oncologist and I said I was going to carry on working he didn’t say not to. He said see how you feel.  It was the nurse when I picked up the tablets last week that terrified me. What with the low immune system and the passport and card for  a&e incase of sepsis terrified me. Working has taken my mind off it snd j have such a laugh with my colleagues I don’t want to wallow in self pity at home. 

. Yes I left the hospital with a carrier bag of ‘goody’s’ - antisickness, anti-diarrhoea, diarolyte for rehydration, steroids,booklets…..I don’t think I was given the A & E card until I started my post-op chemo though? They have to cover every eventuality but I decided that I probably wouldn’t take paracetamol if I read the leaflet of side effects so just pretended they were vitamin tablets!

You remind me of me so I would say go for it on the work front and see how it goes?

Karen x

Thanks again. I start tomorrow so will see how I feel and maybe go to work when due back in the new year. 

Hi, , I also work a day per week in a school, and my suggestion would be that you can work, but avoid contact with the kids, just in case. I guess this would mean you can't serve up. I think it would not be worth the risk. Just my opinion. Talk to your nurse, and your boss. Take care

Thanks Gemmary. I was actually thinking that yesterday. Seems a better idea.