Hi all I was just wondering how many people returned to work after initial treatment and how long did it take. I know every situation is very different but did any one say well I am going to not work for 1-2 years given what we generaly know about this disease and live it up so to speak even if that was playing music or other things we never seam to get around to. Also was this a positive thing or negative way to go for anyone who did?

This is probably one of those issues that's different for everybody. My husband had 7 weeks of radiation and chemo. Initially he was told he'd need to be off work for 3 months after treatment finished. Quite frankly, I don't see how he could possibly go back this soon, what with the weight loss, fatigue, drug withdrawal problems, psychological state and on and on. I'll be really surprised is he could even do a graduated return by September.
It would be great to take a couple of years off to do the things we'd like to do, but keep putting off. And if you can afford it, I say go for it.
Anne

I can't remember now how long post Tx I stayed away from work but it was 3 weeks post Tx before I walked out of my tunnel and I'm sure it was another few weeks after that before I went back but I did start only working a few hours a day at first but before long I was back full+ time. As for you just go back when you feel up to it and let whoever know that you may not be there long at first, that you need to build up your work stamina so to speak.

Tony, if you can afford not to work for awhile I'd say do it. Er, don't, that is. I remember not feeling up to working - and I'm a writer so it isn't exactly carrying bricks that I'm doing - for a good 6 months post TX. And then, like David 1, I did so gradually.

I love the idea of taking time to enjoy life. We should all be doing that all the time anyway but of course we so often don't. I'm a year out and working full time and dreaming of a vacation!

David 2

Please keep your feed back coming, it is honest and appreciated. Yes we are all in different situations but I do think it is a question we all ponder and some go one way or another for very different reasons......Tony

Here in the US, most people have to work to survive. Many employers offer health insurance and in order to have health insurance you cant take off work like that. Who wouldnt want to be off for a few years while their health is good? In my world it wasnt an option. I was a single working mom of 2 kids. As their sole support parent, I had to return to work as quickly as I could all 3 times. Luckily, I have an excellent job that is more flexible than most employers and I was able to stay home long enough to heal before returning.

I was fortunate in that I had a lot of accumulated sick leave and vacation time. I ended up basically taking the whole summer off, and coming back part time in October, then back to full time in November. It was really hard, but I also think it made me be more engaged and gave me something to think about other than my illness. I still have a lot of "eating" issues and get very tired, but I was glad to be able to return to work.

Hi Tony,

My husband Ron is a finish carpenter so his job is very physical. He started back to work (part time basis) about a month after he finished radiation. In my opinion he pushed it too soon, but that's the kind of guy he is. He's not one to sit around....even if he needs to! After about 4 months, he was back to working on a full time basis.

Hope this helps,

Shelley

I guess I would represent an alternate perspective here. I worked all the way through treatment. I missed some time after the neck dissection, but that was it.

First, I was admittedly fortunate in that I did not have some of the dire side effects that others have from the treatment. Still, I lost a lot of weight and it was not easy. However, for my individual mind set, it was important to live live as "normally" as possible, both for me and for my family. I could have taken time off with fairly small financial impact, due to good temporary disability coverage, but I couldn't bring myself to do that.

Sure, there is merit to the "smell the roses while you can" school of thought, but for me that would just be a tacit acknowledgment that this disease was going to win, and I wasn't prepared to do that.

Would I recommend my choice to others? Probably not. It worked for me, however, and I came through a bit stronger and significantly more appreciative of life. We just returned from a 12 day Mediterranean cruise, and I'll celebrate three years from the end of treatment in just under two weeks.

These are highly individual decisions, and there truly is no right or wrong. You need to do what is best for you and your family. Nothing is irrevocable. You can start to take some time off, then always decide to go back. Conversely, you could go back to work, and then take off if it is too much.

Best wishes!

Thankyou Jeff and everyone, please keep your views coming as I think this is a huge topic. The living normally as to not, is very interesting as I can see that it does not let you give in to the disease winning.

The many individual situations probably decide the matter for many, as not to work is an option that is not doable in most cases.

I myself have had 9 weeks of work and have returned slowly building up to full time in a few weeks. My work has been wonderfull in helping me.

I have to say that I am not coping really well and do question the more time out option. I could probably take a year or 18 months of but it would knock me back a lot financialy and no guarantee of a job to go back to.......tuff stuff and your thoughts and experiances are of a huge help.
Tony