Returning to work and normal life

Hi 

don’t rush it as you can get tired after surgery. Can you do less hours to ease you back in as people don’t realise that you can become tired. Answering phones and getting up early is still tiring on your body. Don’t forget your body is still healing inside. Listen to your body and you will know if you feel up to it. Xx

I was told by surgeon masectomy is major surgery and would take six weeks for recovery from op . I'm retired so he wasn't talking back to work . Your body needs time to recover don't rush back 

Margaret x

Hi gymfreak

I agree with netty13 and Northerner. I have been off work since July and I'm itching to go back but not been well enough. My mastectomy is next year after chemo. I have had lumpectomy but the cancer returned. You need to give yourself time to heal and listen to your body. 

BB

Xx

I totally agree with everyone I had my mastectomy and skin soaring reconstruction  4 weeks ago (15/11) and even just walking the dog for half and hour or having visitors for an afternoon is so so tiring

my consultant said 6weeks at least you’ve had major surgery listen to your body  you don’t say if you have further treatment I started chemo today and there’s no way I’d want to be at work just yet 

speak to your BCN or consultant they will advise you 

xx

I can go in maybe just a few hours. Say 11 until 3

I can get picked up from home and then dropped back later 

Thank you for your reply. X

I don’t know yet what follow up treatment I will need. I will be getting my pathology results Xmas eve.

 Thank you for your reply. I will update you when I get my results xx

Mastectomy is not always major surgery; it depends how long the operation was. Simple mastectomy with no reconstruction is often a day case procedure. Having said that, the idea of returning to work after a week is a bit extreme. As others have said, it’s likely to do more harm than good. No-one should be pressuring you to go back so quickly.  If it’s money worries you can get help from Macmillan.

I think it depends on how you feel. If you love your job and feel it would do you good to get back then you could give it a try. Bear in mind cancer has a special status in employment law so if your boss is pressuring you to return to work then he could be in a lot of trouble.  Xxx

Even simple mastectomy takes a long time to heal though.  I had a simple mastectomy with the idea of  delayed reconstruction in April.   After about 2.5 hours in theatre i was sent home that evening.  My breast nurse said it will take about 8 months to settle before we knew I needed chemo.  When I had my nuclear bone scan  about a month after my mastectomy the left breast area lit up as a bright rectangle,  showing the entire area as one of fast cell growth.  I had node clearance at the end of May as  1 of my 2 sentinels was positive (the rest were all clear) so chemo started a biupt later,   in July,  and every single cycle for the last five months it has affected my surgery,  giving twinges and swelling in the second half of the cycle so I know that it's still healing.  

I normally work in a busy school library, so i only went to work a few hours alternate Saturdays when it was quiet to catch up a little.  I didn't do any lifting,  shelving or carrying,  but was still tired after a couple of hours. That was my choice though,  not their decision. I can't officially work until I'm no longer on sick leave and will have a phased return after the chemo a it takes 2 months to leave your system and a lot longer for your body to recover.  Luckily they are really good about it.  Our school business  manager had surgery and chemo last year so understands what it's like. Maybe your boss just doesn't understand and is trying to be helpful? Could you have a chat,  and when your doctor writes the sick note also talk to him or her about how you are feeling.  Most people are off for 4-6 weeks, which is the basic healing time.

Londonmumof2

I agree Margaret my op was a like yours a simple  Masectomy as in straightforward everyday surgery for the surgeons . With no complications afterwards so yes up on feet walking around ,doing excercise.

This is why my surgeon made a point of telling me it was Major , the impact on your body is greater than your mind is telling you . So slowly does it . By the time I started chemo 6 weeks later I felt reasonably fit but still tiring a lot more readily .

Margaret