How long off work with radiotherapy?

Hi Notts57 welcome to the forum and its ok to feel scared, you wouldn't be human if you weren't. Its the unknown that's scarey, so lets see what we can do to help minimize that fear, even if only a little. 

Radiotherapy can be given over 15-20 sessions or over 5 larger dose sessions but it is dependant on the hospital which one they offer. You wont feel anything at all and it will take longer for them to line you all up on the treatment table ready for the treatment than the actually treatment itself. The side effects from Radiotherapy vary from person to person, some get red skin and some like me have skin breakdowns but are easily treatable. The skin can become dry  and it is important that you keep skin moisturised and the team treating you will advise you what to use and most importantly what NOT to use.  I used Pure Aloe Vera gel only but lots of people use different things. It is also vital that you keep you hydrated by drinking plenty  before and after the treatment sessions. 

I found that the biggest thing for me was the tiredness and I mean a tiredness that is indescribable it just takes all the energy out of you. That said some people have no issue at all and are and have continued to work through Radiotherapy and only you will know how you feel and you need to listen to your body and rest up as you need to. 

Hope thats been useful and I am sure that some of the other lovely folks on here will be along soon to offer further tips for you.

Meantime Im sending some huge big hugs your way. xx

Hi

Its different for everyone.Some people work all the way through their treatment, others part time and some not at all.The main side effects are fatigue and a sore skin and the treatment carries on working after you complete the course with the maximum effects approx 2 weeks later.The side effects are felt more in some people than others.

Even if you work through your treatment I would recommend you have some time off after you finish treatment if you can.

Good luck

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis but your on good hands and also know that breast cancer is one of the most curable form of cancer. 

I had radiotherapy in December 2021. I had been told I would have 15 sessions which were reduced to 5 intense sessions. For two weeks after the finish of the therapy I felt fine. Then it hit me, no energy, extremely tired and very moody which I hadn't had at any point up until then. Also I had the skin blister under my bust, I'm a large busted woman and had been warned about this. When this happened I contacted the hospital straight away and they asked me to attend where I was given a special dressing to help with the healing process. 

I'm only now starting to feel good and still fall asleep, but this could be due to medication I'm on as well. I'm now starting to take up my hobbies again. I still get pains under my arms and in my bust but put this down to nerves repairing its self.

Personally only you will know if you need more time off work and how radiotherapy effects you. Some people sail through and others feel awful and somewhere in between.

Good luck for the future just remember your still alive. 

Hi Notts67 and another warm welcome to the forum. No questions are silly here! I can only talk for myself - I thought I’d be back at work (special needs teacher) a couple of weeks after my op (same as yours I think) and also thought I’d be able to work through rads if my appointments worked re the school day. Completely different in practice! I ended up staying off from the day of my op until 4 weeks after rads, 4 months in total. School were very supportive so I was lucky, they encouraged me to stay away until I felt properly healed and well enough. It was a very physical job. 
Everyone is different, as are the mental and physical demands of each job. And of course potentially more doable if you’re working from home. I was also lucky regarding my sick pay. 
Hope you can play it by ear to some extent, this is definitely a time to put yourself first and do what feels best for you. Love and hugs, HFxx 

As others have said, everyone is different. I'm self employed so worked at home throughout all treatment (chemo, surgery and rads) with just a few days off for each chemo cycle and surgery. I worked full time throughout radiotherapy, which was the shorter more inemtensive one for me. I had 10 days and I asked them to give me afternoon appointments so I could work a full day beforehand.

Radiotherapy peaks 2 weeks after treatment and at 6 weeks you should be fully healed. I found it a walk in the park compared to chemo but it seems that people who haven't had chemo find it quite tiring - possibly because you're still in the whirlwind of diagnosis as well as the fact it is pretty tiring - but compared to chemo it isn't.

If you're employed you may want to see if they can be flexible with you. 

Hello thanks so much for your reply  xx

Hello thanks so much for your reply.It's so reassuring to have contact with others who have been through this xx

Thankyou for your reply..much appreciated xx

If you can take time off easily I would. If you have no choice then it’s doable loosely for most people but if you can I think you’d find it easier, good luck xx