I had lumpectomy and radio, no chemo for breast cancer. Lumpectomy was August and radio was October. I went back to work at the end of November and I’m pretty knackered at the end of the day. I don’t think you’te being pathetic at all. 

Hi, I’m not surprised your knackered by the end of the day, it isn’t long since the end of your treatment. Now I’ve been back 2 months my manager has said I really need to get back to my normal work arrangements, and stop using my annual leave each week for a phased return, I can’t imagine coping with work as it was before my treatment, finding it all a bit overwhelming. Be good to yourself and allow time to get over it all, good luck x

Hi, I’m not surprised your knackered by the end of the day, it isn’t long since the end of your treatment. Now I’ve been back 2 months my manager has said I really need to get back to my normal work arrangements, and stop using my annual leave each week for a phased return, I can’t imagine coping with work as it was before my treatment, finding it all a bit overwhelming. Be good to yourself and allow time to get over it all, good luck x

Been using some of mine as well. The sickness plocy where I work is pretty rigid, I’ve needed a dispensation to do four weeks of a phased return instead of the usual three. 

Doesn’t help when my manager is a ******** as well.

Take care.  

Four weeks is nothing after what you have been through, at least I’ve been treated better than that. At the end of my treatment the radiotherapy nurse specialist told me I could have support to attend work HR meetings, i think it was MacMillan who would accompany you and help clarify what your employer is legally obliged to do when you have had cancer, you should look into it, especially if you feel you won’t cope working full time so soon x

There was precious little support from radiotherapy department where I went to be honest. It wasn’t much more than a glorified meat processing plant. Turn up get zapped and leave. There was one follow up phone call two weeks after treatment ended and that’s been it. Was signed off by the consultant from Oncology on 24 November and that seems to be it completely. I can get a quick referral back if there is a problem.  Got the next appointment in the breast care unit, also misnamed, next August. It’s not great in this area. 

The support seems to vary so much, the Breast care team in my local hospital have been fantastic, it was the oncologists that seemed a bit dismissive. Look on the MacMillan website, or contact them to speak to someone, the last thing you need is pressure at work just now, take care and keep well x

Thank you 

Bosses don't understand. All they see is you, not pulling you weight, so to speak. I had a fair bit of my colon out and now I am on my last session of adjutant chemo tablet's. I too had to take holiday time for my treatment. I too feel tired and and need to rest up, more often than normal (what's normal now)but bosses seem to think, once it's over you should function pretty much as you did. (short memories). I am going to go on a four day week. They don't like the idea but I have to think of my health, in the long term Still, there are people worse off than me, so onward's and upward's.

You are legally entitled to "reasonable adjustments" - MacMillan have some good advice on this but compliance is at best patchy especially with small businesses. 

www.macmillan.org.uk/.../reasonableadjustmentsguide.pdf