H Susu

I am not sure what type of operation you have had there or the cancer.

I myslef had through cancer and if you want some deatil on the process i wentthrough i wrote a blog about the wholeof my experience which mught be of use to you.

it can be found at gammaraygary.wordpress.com/about/

feel free tp ask anything though

Vatch

Dear Vatch,

Thank you for your reply and I will certainly look at your blog.

I had bilateral breast cancer - lobular grade 2 on one side and tubular grade 1 on the other.

After lumpectomy and sentinel node removal on both sides, the magins were clear and there was no cancer in the lymph nodes so all fine now from that point of view.

My concern is if, what and when any side effects will kick in from having radiotherapy and how realistic it is to continue working full time during and after this treatment.

I realise that everyone reacts differently but just want to get some sort of idea.

Thanks a lot

x

I also had Lobular stage2,  I had chemo and then radiotherapy.  Everyone is difference, but I had little side affects from the readiotherapy.  I drove there and went shopping after.  I completed treatment in the July and went back to work in the September.  I was on a phased return for about 6 weeks.  My job is quite physical working with children with complex needs, and although tired at the beginning, the help and support of my collegues, I soon got back into working.  I am also 60 so some of the tiredness may be age!!!

I probably could have worked during radiotherapy, but with having chemo I had a bit longer.

Take care - any more questions please ask.

Thank you so much for your reply.

After my op, 13 March, I went back to work, monings only, last week and really struggled. I developed a seroma under one arm a week after the op and all the incisions are still healing so I found working (office/computer based) quite difficult. Obviously it's not nearly as strenous as your job, mentally or physically, but still requires a fair bit of movement. I was asked to do longer hours this coming week but feel I am not up to it just yet so will be doing mornings only again.

I am hoping to plan for the radiotherapy to be at the end of each working day so I can go straight home afterwards and I guess I will just have to see how it goes. It was reassuring to hear that you feel you would have been ok had you just had radiotherapy though so thank you for that..

I hope you are now well on the way to recovery?

x

hi susu

I had tomotherapy which is a bit more pinpoint and intensive and becuase ofbthis can make the tirednessmore intense.

For me i was ok up to week three then it all begain to kick in, in termsof termsof tirednessI work full time and did so up to week 4 but struggled towards the end. i then worked from home but had to have a sleep in the afternoon. i then finsihed my treatment and was worse the two weeks after therapy finished than during the whole time.Thos were the only two weeks i took off work. 

I then worked from home for the nex couple of weeks then did alternative days, but it takes me an hour to drive to work and after getting back hime had to sleep for 3 hours.

before my treatment i was i get to bed by 12 and wake up naturally by 6.30, no I dont last much passed 11 and could sleep in until 9, but i think that also got to do with me losing 60% of my muscle tone and 3 stone

I have now been back at work since Novemeber and can cope i am even coping with the long hours, but i am fit for nothing when i come home and need my sleep.

If you are like my you will try to hold on to as many normal things as you can, but eventually you have to listen to you body and slow down a bit.

Some Super human people like Guzzle on here have one bad week and move on, some don't ...its different for us all

Keep us up to date with how you are doing

Vatch

Hi Shirley,

Thanks for your reply and good luck with starting your treatment on Tuesday, I hope it goes well for you.

I am assuming that I will be advised of creams, lotions etc duing my initial oncology appointment next Monday, along with all sorts of other information?

I am being pressured at work to return to full time hours asap but as I have no idea what, if any, the effects will be, it is very difficult to know what to do. I understand that some may not be felt until after the treatment has ended and of course it varies from person to person anyway so we will both just have to wait and see what happens...

Take care and do let me know how you get on.

xx

susu and marcraff

good luck with you treatments and wish you all the best

The only thing i would advise is that if you ae like me and have to drive to work, be very very careful. after a days works you will be surprise how tired you really are and thats not a good situation when you are at the wheel of a car.

I did it and just about got through it but i phased myself back to work and did a mixture of shorter days, days when i worked from home and days off. 

I finished my treatment on 15th August i did not get back to work full time until November.

Its different for us all I i had throat cancer with Tomotherapy (30 session over 6 weeks) and 6 daily session of chemo.

I understand work is impotant but listen to you body

Hi Shirley,

Thanks so much for your post and good luck as you carry on with the sessions. I for one would certainly appreciate further posts from you as you progress. Not only for my own selfish reasons of knowing what I can possibly expect in a few weeks time when I start (!), but also to see how you are doing. I am very glad that it has started well for you and long may that continue. 

I was a little surprised though to see that you are having 5 weeks of treatment , I have assumed that I will be getting only 3 weeks worth but I guess I will know more on Monday when I go for my initial consultation.

I know we are always being told that everyone's case is is different and we should not compare notes but although I wouldn't wsh it on anyone I find it incredibly comforting to hear from others on here. Family, friends and colleagues are great support but unless you go through it yourself it can be difficult to really understand all the "fun" involved.

All the best and enjoy your weekend.

Susu x