Working while having radiotherapy

HI Ange19

I hope the chemo is going ok for you.

I did not have internal radiotherapy but did have external radiotherapy. It was 25 sessions plus the oncologist appointments once a week for review. Although the actual treatment did not take long I would be away from home for 3/4 hours a day. The journey would be about 45 mins to an hour each day depending on traffic. At the hospital I would need to get there about 45 minutes before each appointment. On arrival it would be a mini enema ( takes about 20 minutes to work) then it would be drinking water and waiting for 30 minutes for my bladder to be the right size. The idea is that your rectum needs to be empty and your bladder needs to be the same size each time to try to avoid the radiotherapy reaching them as much as possible. Then it would be go to the changing room (There were gowns but I would just remove my trousers) and then to the actual radiotherapy room. It would take 5-10 mins to position me on the plinth and to take the first CT to check position. Then they did something on the computer and the actual treatment took about 5 minutes. Then it was a quick chat about any symptoms, get dressed and go home. 

This was 5 days a week for 5 weeks. 

I did not work during this time and would have been unfit to do so. I also had chemo and was having problems with my blood. Working from home could be a possibility but I would have found the fatigue and tummy effects hard to manage. I was also put on quite a bit of medication. Everyone is affected differently but for me focussing on getting the radiotherapy out of the way was the better option. Most people seem to find that any side effects- if they are going to develop- do so after the first couple of weeks so it may be that you would be ok at first and then find it harder to cope with working.

Maybe see how you go, if you do manage to do some work from home, that is great but if it is too much - then it is very understandable after chemo and then going through radiotherapy. I found after the last chemo I did feel rough from it for a couple of months and if you add the radiotherapy to it and all the travelling it can take time to get over. 

Although they can try and fit in with you to some extent I found that my appointments were at all different times as well and mainly in the middle of the day. So if I had an appointment for say 12- I would have to leave home just after 10 to get there early and to do the prep. There was often a bit of waiting around in the dept. Mine had 3 machines but they were often running a little late and if they had anyone with any additional needs sometimes I would be delayed and the drinking water would have to start again. So for a 12 o'clock appointment it could be getting on for 2 by the time I got home. On days where I saw the consultant (once a week) I could be another couple of hours as they would make an appointment about an hour after the treatment and then there would be waiting around to see them. Often I would be shattered when I got home. 

Hope this helps a bit

Jane

Hi Ange19 

Jane has given you an excellent reply already. I would echo what Jane has said. 

Do you have the opportunity to take some time off work to focus completely on yourself? If so, I would take that opportunity if you want to of course.

Reason being my experience of 27 days of pelvic radiotherapy was exhausting with a long journey each way and the waiting around. It is mentally and physically tiring. 

Side effects kicked in for me a couple of weeks in and that was another adjustment.

Everyone's experience will be different - I can only tell you mine, but put yourself first. 

Kxx

Hi Ange

Internal radiation is called Brachytherapy, usually only 3 sessions done over 3 weekly appointments.

My first appointment was to discuss what was going to happen and a scan to make sure everything was ok.  Tney then did an internal examination and inserted a rod to see how it fitted for the actual therapy.

I then saw my oncologist who asked if I had any questions about anything to do with the cancer diagnosis and further treatment.  It’s a good time to mention any worries or concerns.

I had the first session after that, I had to take off my trousers and underwear and put on a gown then lay on the bed.  The rod was inserted and fixed up to the radiation machine.  It was 15 - 20 minutes then get dressed and leave.  There was no pain or discomfort at all for me.

After the third session I did develop a urine infection but cleared with antibiotics. 

I no longer work for health reasons but if I had I would’ve been able to go back to work after each session.  I was advised that I could take paracetamol for pain if needed but I didn’t.

Hope everything goes well for you 

Linda

P.s I didn't work and currently still off work. That was the best decision for me. Please don't put any pressure on yourself - just see how you go. Your experience may be very different to mine.

Hi Ange, I didn’t have chemo but I did have radio and brachy (internal). My brachy was as an outpatient, two appointments and it was a breeze, I’d say it may depend on a couple of things: firstly how far the hospital is from you, and secondly whether/when/if you get any side effects and how manageable rhey are. I had my radio April-May 2022, at the same time as a lady on here who ran choirs, and she elected to have her daily treatment first thing in the morning so that she could carry on with her choirs in the afternoons and evenings and she did throughout, I don’t do paid work, but I do voluntary work in my community with low income families, and also am a trustee of a dog rescue charity, and I continued to do these as usual throughout my treatment, despite living 45-60 mins away, because I had no side effects till the middle of week 4 of radio, and even then it was mild. I know of others on this group who kept working throughout, but also of others who didn’t feel able to. FWIW some hospitals advise mini enemas pre treatment every day, some don’t. Mine said they weren’t required as long as the person had had a bowel movement that day, so I never needed one. If you only need brachy, I’d say it’s totally doable to keep working. If radio, then possibly. I drove to and from all my sessions. I had asked my CNS if I’d be ok to drive myself and she said probably yes for the first 2 weeks at least, and then depending on tiredness or possible side effects (meaning the runs). I didn’t get the runs at all, and just had some bloating and urgency half way through week 4. I told them, was told to take a Buscopan, and that helped. So it was all good for driving and doing my voluntary work all the way through. 

Hi Jane

Thank you so much Jane that is really helpful and a great explanation of your experience.  I’ll see at the time, but tend to think it maybe easier not to work.

Take care

Ange

Hi Linda

Thanks for that, it’s given me more of an insight into what will happen.  I will just have to see how I am, I’ve been off work now since November, it’s quite a long time and my sick note runs out in April!  Saying that I’m certainly not going to put myself under too much pressure if I’m not well enough at the time to go back to work.

Good luck and take care

Ange

Hi Marmite

Thank you for your explanation it is really helpful.  I’ll just have to wait and see what treatment I need and see how I am.

Good luck and take care

Ange

Hi KT

Thank you.  If it is too much for me I’ll continue taking time off as I don’t want to put unnecessary pressure on myself, also I may still be recovering from the chemotherapy.

Good luck and take care

Ange

Hi Ange19 

Glad to see you putting yourself first. I have been off work since September and they have been very supportive. I intend to go back but only when I feel fit and ready. Nowhere near that at the moment - but I will be.

Marmite put up a radiotherapy thread which you may want to tap into. It helped me. 

Wishing you all the best.

Kxx