Getting back to work

Hi Murcao,

My cancer is not the same as yours - I have kidney cancer. Had robotic partial nephrectomy four weeks ago tomorrow.

It seems that here in the UK (might be different in other countries) the general advice for most major surgeries for cancer is 6 weeks off work, but depends on what you do. If you have an office job you might feel fit to go back after 4 weeks, depending on how you feel sitting for long periods. I work in a busy shop so 6 weeks is minimum for me. Every surgery involving the torso and pelvis and abdomen areas, advises no lifting of anything over about 5 kg, for 6-12 weeks, even with laparoscopic apparently. That's because the deeper muscles that were cut in surgery, are still repairing themselves for up to 12 weeks. 

I started driving again today. My consultant said minimum 4 weeks. Think he would have preferred 6 weeks but then I would have to go back to work the same day as I would start driving, which didn't seem very sensible to me. So now I will be doing short drives most days - 5-10 miles max for the first week - which for me is getting back to normal as I drive every day.

I don't do things like running, gym, heavy workouts, so for me those are not normal life but if you do, I think it's 6-12 weeks and possibly erring on the side of 12 weeks if you can, so as not to strain your core muscles. Walking is a good and safe "work-out" for the first 12 weeks.

You sound like you have rested up well for the last 4 weeks so your healing will likely have taken good effect already. If you can manage 6 weeks it will be safer as it gives a better margin for healing well, but maybe like me you are starting to feel like you have cabin fever and need to feel human again now asap! 

Everyone is different. Many are very tired for weeks afterwards. I haven't been tired at all but I think this is unusual from what I've read. Some people are still unable to walk very far even a few weeks later. Others are still in a lot of pain a month or more later. If you start an activity (eg, driving) and it gives you a new pain, or makes you feel very tired, stop the activity for a couple of days and rest more, then revisit the activity a little while later. 

Just ease back into your normal life, but take it slowly. Working: depends on what job you do, how long your doctors will sign you off sick for, and whether your employer can make adjustments for you if you work a physical job, eg not letting you do any heavy work such as lifting or pushing, for the first few weeks. 

I think we all know our own body. The main advices here in the UK are the above, meaning: stop if the activity you have started, gives you pain....don't do anything strenuous for an absolute minimum of 6 weeks and if heavy such as work-outs, longer than that...and keep resting, as you start to reclaim parts of your life.  Take it steady, and you will heal completely quicker.

Thanks , the advice for me is also 6 weeks ,but man I'm so tired being on the couch ,I have to be pacient, thanks again for your answer. 

Hello Maite 

Just a quick post to thank you for taking the time to join us from another group to help with your words of advice from experience - it's much appreciated.

I wish you well with your own personal journey.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi !

Nice to see that you’ve had prostatectomy now. Curious, did they also take out identified lymph nodes as well? Are you still on Orgovyx and Abiraterone and is planned to have adjuvant radiation in pelvis when you’ve healed from prostatectomy?

Sounds like you’ve come a long way in your treatment pathway and really hope for the best outcome