I work for local council in school transport. I have over 100 staff. I can work from home but choose not to as I feel my staff need to see me and they keep me going. I have worked there 7 years so they are my extended family. I have been with them for their health and bad times so I know I can expect the same-not that I’ve told them all why I’ve been off. They know I’ve had medical treatment and a few have had their own cancer journeys so we have bonded over that. Don’t rush work if you don’t need to. My job is a big part of my world but I have to say in last 4 weeks I’ve hardly given it a thought. Take each day as a day you succeeded in just being 

Thank you MummyMartin - that’s really kind. I’m going to get one of those cushions as I’ve read a few reviews saying how good they are. 
My partner is great but I don’t want to put too much pressure on him so I hold back a bit when he asks how I’m feeling. I feel so guilty and I can’t shake it off. 
On the plus side, it has snowed here overnight so we can hunker down, eat the last of the mince pies and watch films all day! 

I work in a school. They have been really supportive. I’ve told them I’m not going back until at least after February half term so that they’ve been able to sort out a proper supply staff. But I’m worried my doctor won’t sign me off for that long. I just can’t imagine working in that environment feeling physically and mentally vulnerable. 

I bought one on Etsy was £7. Even came with a personal card saying they hoped me or the recipient recovered quickly 

Many thanks Jolamine! I am sorry you have had to undergo so much intervention. It’s special of you to use your experience to reassure others thank you. 
I was fortunate that a wise friend advised that  I told our 18year old daughter when I first found the lump and was referred,  on the basis that she had left for her first uni term and it would have created a drama if we needed to visit her with bad news across her term. I could tell her when she was in our home at the start of the holidays. I am so happy that she is grown up and better able to take this on board being the age she is. I don’t take this for granted and I really feel for you if your family is any younger or more vulnerable.

I am waiting to tell my elderly parents once I have the full diagnosis this week following biopsies in the hope that it isn’t a worst case scenario and that they believe that I will make a good recovery. They have lost most of their friends to breast cancer. We are fortunate to be a generation younger with better outcomes -where a diagnosis is early- but I fear they won’t really take that on board.

Anyway, this is a very good place to read and write about this stuff thanks  and I will take the advice to write notes with the consultant and have someone with me. My biggest query is around why a lumpectomy and not a mastectomy  when this didn’t used to be the case. A touch cynically I wonder whether this is a policy driven by the efficiencies  of offering a speedy result of minimal intervention, dealing with the immediate cancer source and dismissing future risk of recurrence. If there is a serious risk of recurrence I would rather undergo one surgical intervention even if it were the more radical. Do you feel sorry that you weren’t advised to have your mastectomy from the beginning - May I ask whether you were advised one way or the other? It must be an extremely hard decision and one I hope I don’t have to make for want of a consultant deciding based on data outcomes including repeat lumpectomies. I am sorry to bring this up with you and hope you don’t mind xx Leaning on your being both patient and gracious in asking you this. Xx

To jump on a recent reply to you can I ask was your mastectomy on the same breast and if yes how long after your lumpectomy procedure. I had lumpectomy and my decision was purely based on surgeon advise that mastectomy wasn’t needed at this time-but will I regret that decision later down line 

Sorry, I meant to say stage and not age!

Jolamine xx

HI Ange,

I would highly recommend one of the heart shaped cushions - just a small one that you can carry around with you. For car journeys, I used the seat belt protectors that attach to the seat belt by Velcro. These are really for babies or young children. They weren't as helpful as the cushion, but they were of some use. They can also b bolstered up by adding more padding or are very easy to make yourself. 

I'm glad to hear that you have managed to arrange cover until half-term. The tiredness is common and you need to be kind to yourself.

Jolamine xx

I was signed off initially for 2 weeks then asked for another week and then I was off for Christmas anyway. Yours is a different job so emotions will play a big part to your return. I think you could get 6 week note easily. When I phoned for my fit note they basically asked me how long I would like!!