Shielding

Hi Carer1962 welcome to the forum and sorry to hera about your sister.

I think that your advice to your sister is very sensible asking her to make contact with her Consultant and she should probably be wary about going back into a crowded or airless environment as with chemo her immune system will be compromised making her more susceptible to infection.

Th  other thing that your sister could do is to give the Macmillan Line a call as they could maybe advise re the issue with employers and employment. 08088080000.

1. Thanks. I will pass that number onto her.

Hi, sorry to hear your sister's news. My consultant helped to fast track me through my vaccinations as I was diagnosed in March.  I'd also be wary of the risks as chemo does lower the immune system, but I'd ask her consultant about the specific situation.  Depends I guess how easily she can be socially distant at work, is there proper ventilation in the office, are colleagues required to wear masks etc.   In my company we have allowed cancer patients, who are considered Clinically Extremely Vulnerable, to either work from home or go onto furlough.   Hope this helps.

Thanks. She is going to speak to the consultant. She is anxious about it which isn't helping. She has high blood pressure too and that is higher than normal at the moment.

I was lucky and was able to work from hone throughout and still do. I would not have felt safe going into work and seeing other people, your immune system is extremely compromised and the middle week is your worst time, so she will be feeling rubbish that first week and when she starts to feel a bit better, that is her most immunocompromised time. Chemo is cumulative so your immune system gets worse and worse as you go through.

She may not feel like working through chemo. I had to as I am self-employed..

Hopefully she can speak to her BCN or oncologist about it and then be able to have a sensible conversation with her work 

I'm pleased to say that she has been given a sick note from her GP for three months (which is as much as the computer could do) and can go back for a further note if needed.

This is great news - I would have done the same if I have been an employee!