Returning to work

Hi mgak,

Welcome to the forum. 

Your not being silly about returning to work. I was diagnosed in May and have been off since. Mostly for op chemo radiotherapy etc. But it's not just the physical side it's your emotional side also that takes a battering. The fear and stress of the unknown.

Be kind to yourself listen to your body and if not fit ghe return when you are. Everyone is different some people like to work as a distraction.

I will return to work at the beginning of the new year when I feel I'm ready.

Good luck with your recovery journey xx

Thank you. Hope your recovery is going well xx

My recovery is going well now. I am coming out the other side now.

Still having 6 monthly bone infusions and on Letrozole for 5 years but feel I'm getting back to my former self.

I hope all goes well with your treatment plan. Be kind to yourself and use this forum for support and ask questions of those further on in their treatments than yourself. Xx

Hi mgak , you’re definitely not being silly! I expected to have just 2 weeks off after my lumpectomy/ sentinel node biopsy but ended up being off for 4 months! I’d googled ‘lumpectomy’ and found the reference to 2 weeks. The reality was very different. Some people do go back very soon after but we’re all different, even the size and depth of incision can affect recovery. I’d had a previous lumpectomy for what turned out to be a benign fibroadenoma and it was a tiny incision and very quick recovery. Totally different to this time. Please do allow yourself whatever time you need, it’s a combination of physical and emotional recovery which varies hugely. Sending love and a big virtual hug, HFxx

Thank you.  I’ve a lump appear today which isn’t great. This definitely turns your life upside down. Hope your recovery is going well xx

I had lumpectomy and sentinal biopsy and took 4 weeks off and so glad I did as I think it's really helped my recovery! I was still too sore and a bit emotional/overwhelmed 2 weeks after. I work on reception in an emergency vets so having to try be strong for clients when I wasn't strong for myself was a no go!  Good luck with your recovery xx

Definately not ridiculous the emotional rollercoaster is very hard to deal with, I've been off since August and work is one less thing to worry about it especially if you get paid in full, take care x

Hi , no not ridiculous at all , I was exactly the same, I just started a new job, 3 weeks in when I found out I had cancer,HR2 and 2 lymph nodes removed soon to have ct  scan and the radio therapy, I’m due to go back to work on 25 November, then hospital rang for me to go and have my ct scan on the same day, I wanted to focus on my new job but now not really looking faward to going back to work and having the scan after work, so even though I’m only getting government sick pay at the moment, I would say don’t go back to work until your ready, as I did try to go back sooner but then realised I wasn’t up to it , you’re on an emotional rollercoaster at the moment so take time for you , only you can decide, good luck with everything x

Thank you. Hope your recovering well and scan is good news xx

Thankyou and hope everything goes well for you, try to put yourself first for once , as time goes on you will start to feel better, but your emotions will still go up and down, as I feel as you move on from different stages you will get stronger ️