Welcome to OCF Dr K! Nice to see a doctor join. But I am sorry that you are joining due to your illness. You have come to the best! This is the most comprehensive site for all info regarding oral cancer. There are also the main pages which frequently get overlooked. On the main pages are many news articles and an unbelievable amount of medical info.

Being a physician, you have seen the worst side of cancer. You also know that no 2 patients are going to react the exact same way to treatments, medications and procedures. Best way to get thru this is to work hard at keeping up your nutrition and hydration. Recently there was a newer member who sailed right thru fairly easily only feeling the worst effects the last week of treatment.

I stopped working right around when i began my chemo and radiation treatments. i was fortunate enough to have a very good job where I was able to take a long break from working to concentrate on my health. After being on the forum and seeing so many people go thru treatments, if I had to give a guess at how long you could continue to work I would say 3 weeks. If you will be given chemo, try to get weekly doses instead of the 3 large doses every 3 weeks. The 3 large doses of chemo are more potent and many of us (myself included) skipped the 3rd dose due to being so ill. As far as returning to work, I went back 6 weeks after finishing my treatments. I had a desk job which did not require any exertion. Im sure you are on your feet, making important decisions so I would say 2 months after finishing you should be able to return on a part time basis. Of course I am just making a guess. I hope you have an easy time and do not have to worry about missing much work. But unfortunately, weather you can make time or not cancer has a way of forcing itself into your life and taking center stage, everything else becomes secondary.

When all is said and done, you will learn so much from being on the patient side of this battle. Cancer will teach you to value what truly is the most important things in life, your family and good health. In the end, this is going to make you one heck of a better listener to your patients and much more understanding. Oral cancer is not an easy one to go thru! It affects things that other cancer patients dont have to deal with. Many patients and their caregivers end up needing a therapist and anxiety meds to help them to cope with the devastation oral cancer can cause both mentally and physically. This forum will help you with everything! We are here to help both you and your wife. Anyone who offers to give you a hand, write down their name and contact info and let them know that when the time comes, you will call them for help. Now is not the time to be proud, its ok to ask for help. I hope its not necessary but even if it is to pick up groceries or meds from the pharmacy, it will ease the load from your wife/caregiver.

Hang in there, it really will be ok.