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Wednesday, November 11, 2009 abi999 asks

Q: Chemotheraphy

Can anyone tell me how bad is it to work while you are undergoing chemo, my oncologist said may be to be out of work and the though of been out of work will kill me.

 

Please advise

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Answers (2)
11/12/09 6:07am

This will depend on the type of work you do, how flexible your employers are, and the type of chem you are on.  I'm a teacher, and I was on summer vacation during the Adriamycin/Cytoxan part of my chemo.  It made me really fatigued, and I don't think that I could have worked during it.  However, I know other people who worked through AC chemo.  By the fall I was on Taxol, and I did work through that and radiation.  I did not do anything else, just went home and collapsed and let my husband get supper, etc.  People vary widely in their energy level and response to chemo.  If you have employers who can be flexible with your hours, then unless there is some particular problem with the type of work you do being incompatible with chemo, then I say give it a try.  If it turns out to be too much, you can stop.

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11/12/09 6:34am

As my mom used to say, Abi, don't borrow trouble... I worked all through chemo, taking off only the Friday afternoons when I had the actual infusion. There were days I felt queasy, but I slogged through. We're all different - you might work through chemo just fine; you might take an occasional day off; or you might have a rough time and have to take quite a bit of time off. You just don't know till you go through it. Whatever your experience, be good to yourself! When you're not working TAKE IT EASY and rest - don't be doing laundry and housework endlessly. This is a time to let other people take care of you, and/or to just let hoursehold chores go, OK? Good luck - PJH

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