I was off well over 5 months from work. Then went back part time for a month, and full time after 6 months. I was fourtnate in that I had accumulated a lot of sick leave (I was never sick before)and I also used vacation time. The radiation combined with the chemo really knocked me for a loop. They also had to stop the radiation for a while because my neck got so badly burned. But, as you probably have been told, everybody is different. Make sure you keep eating while you are still able, also, even though you might not feel like it.