My first post on here. I'm 40 and was diagnosed with breast cancer a few weeks ago. I'm still waiting for some more screenings and biopsies, but it's looking likely that I have a relatively small stage 2 ductal carcinoma surrounded by a large patch of precancerous cells; it doesn't look to have spread to my lymph nodes. If that ends up being the final diagnosis, it looks as though I'm going to need a mastectomy and hormone treatment, but no chemo or radiotherapy. Thinking very unemotionally that means that I'm only really facing surgery and recovery from surgery, rather than any debilitating daily treatments. However, the way I've been feeling when waiting for results and the struggle simply accepting the fact that I've actually got cancer made me highly unproductive at work as my mind was elsewhere. I ended up taking a few weeks off but am due to go back again on Monday. My conundrum is whether I continue in my relatively high pressure project management role, step down to adopt a more supporting role, or decide to stop work altogether until after my treatment. I know that everyone's situation is different, but I wonder if anyone has any thoughts, advice or has found themselves in a similar position. I feel like a bit of fraud stopping work altogether now I know chemo is unlikely, but I don't want to dismiss it as an option! Thanks everyone x
