Returning to work after surgery

Hi Coffee101 and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is an informative and supportive place to be.

I don't have any personal experience with returning to work after I had my WLE and SLNB as I had 'retired' by then so it wasn't something that I needed to think about.

Macmillan have lots of useful resources and you might like to take a look at this on making decisions about work after treatment. You will see that you and your employer can agree on a return-to-work plan or your employer could agree to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to return to work. You can download Macmillan's reasonable adjustments guide to help you talk to your employer.

You may not know that if you have had cancer the law considers you to be disabled which means that you have various employment rights. If you'd like to chat about this further you could post any questions in the ask a work support adviser section of the online community or speak to one of the work support team by calling 0808 808 0000. It's free to call and they're available Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.

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Hi 

I am glad to hear you have done so well, I am a couple of weeks behind you. They could not find my primary but I had cancer in my lymph nodes under my left arm and had them removed on the 2nd Feb. 

I have been off 3 weeks, i have been trying to manage my expectations as I was very fit and active and read a 3- 6 week recovery, however at the moment my arm is still swollen and I cannot lift it past shoulder height. By 5pm my arm aches and feels very heavy. I have been a manager for a long time and if you were having this conversation with me I would tell yo7 to take more time as I think if you are even asking the question then like you say you probably need a bit more time. I honestly think we put more pressure on ourselves because of our pride and drive to be determined and strong. My advice but your call would be to take the time. 

Take care and whatever you decide to do I hope your return goes well. Also can I ask you a personal question, if you are a women when did you start wearing a bra again ? I have found even a soft support bra very uncomfortable. Thanks again

Thank you so much for the advice. I've had family and friends say to take more time. But I was still torn and feeling guilty if I didnt go back yet. I think to hear this from someone who's also going through this and understands is a real help. So thank you. I wish you all the best and hope everything goes well with your journey.

P.s. I had the same problem with bras, I tried putting one back on about 3 weeks after surgery but used to hurt I'd only manage it on for about an hour. So I stopped and just left it off. I've only now just started to wear them during the day and take it off at night.

Hi Coffee101

I was wondering how you were doing and if you'd had chance to look at the links I provided about returning to work?

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I did look through them thank you, unfortunately it told me everything I already knew. My company have told me not to rush and to come back when I'm ready, but I'm not used to being off work and I just feel guilty for not being there. I think it's more I dont mentally feel ready to go back. 

Thank you for replying and help given. I hope everything is well with yourself and I wish you all the best.

That's good that you knew all that already.

I'm fine, thanks for asking, just coming to the end of my five years of check-ups.

Take care

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Hi am a new member and on 5 weeks after axillary node removal on right arm. Sat at hospital now waiting for app with oncologist to discuss treatment. I have been offered either dabrafenib and trametinib or pembroluzumab. Really don't know what to do, have you had any experience yet? Thanks xx

Hi I hope your well. Theres not really allot I can help with in that department. I was only offered the one form of treatment and that was the pembroluzumab. I've only had the one session so far got my second at the end of march. So far I've not got anything bad to say about it no side effects at all. There are other people on this forum who have had the other treatments I feel they may be able to help more. I would suggest speaking to your oncologist and get them to go through all the info with you as everyone reacts differently. The choice is completely up to you, goodluck. Sorry I couldnt be much help.