Hi Bobbiboo, hard question as everyone seems to have different experiences! And also a lot depends on the nature of your job. I was a special needs teacher and it was physically and mentally demanding. The consultant radiologist I saw part way through (3 weeks in total, pre Covid) advised taking a further 4 weeks off after it was due to finish. I definitely felt I needed it. But some folk here have worked throughout their rads! So maybe be prepared to take the time off but ‘suck it and see’. And really try to do whatever feels right for you and your body. Love and hugs, HFxx
HappyFeet1 xx
Don’t be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts. – Hopi
Hi Bobbiboo, as already posted it's difficult to say how you will feel. The oncologist said that I might feel fatigued for up to 2 months or longer after my radiotherapy and I was signed off for 6 weeks. It was also pointed out to me that I'd had a whole year of treatment - two surgeries, 6 months of chemo then radiotherapy - so my body needed time to recover and this could take a while. I returned to work in May on a phased return for 3 months, slowly building up my hours, but I'm still feeling tired and often need a nap during the afternoon. I'd been off for a year so it wasn't easy going back and I'll be working from home for some time. I think the best thing to do is to listen to your body and when you do feel up to returning to work ease yourself in gradually and don't expect to be 'back to normal' with energy levels the same as they were before your treatment. Hope your radiotherapy goes ok x
Hi, I worked through radiotherapy, just taking a few hours off for each appointment and then straight back to the office, though I do work from home. I was lucky and had no fatigue. Good luck
I finished radiotherapy mid October and went back on phased return 2 weeks later. While I had a desk job it did require me to mentally sharp and I had 5 months of catching up and while I deleted 5 months of emails without reading I did need to get my knowledge current. I struggled as I was overwhelmed with colleagues in and out of my dept welcoming me back, trying to start my work brain again and the effort of getting to work. Then 3 weeks later I fell out of the shower and broke my leg. I think the universe's way of telling me to slow down . So 6 weeks in plaster at home with work laptop for 2 weeks so I could break myself in better without office pressure.
I'm one week post-radiotherapy and feel tired but nothing too awful. I work from home so it's easy to manage and I have a very understanding boss. I did find that halfway through the first week I had moments of utter exhaustion when I couldn't even manage the stairs without feeling shattered. I think it's a case of playing it by ear.
I also worked throughout radiotherapy and asked for afternoon appointments so I could work full time. But I work from home so easier. I'm also self-employed so wanted/needed to be earning money.
I had also had chemo so found rads pretty straightforward compared to that.
They say the radiation peaks at 2 weeks after you finish treatment and your skin/cells don't heal for 6 weeks.
You probably won't be able to judge until you've had it but if you are taking time off work then it would seem sensible to take another couple of weeks after rads and take it from there. And as others have said it depends on your job.
