Hi, aaloi- you've just asked a tough to answer question [teachers are supposed to do that-right?]
Because there are as many individual reactions to chemo and rad. as there are patients, it's hard to know. I would ask you these questions. #1. How far away are you from home when you are at school?
#2. What hours are you away from home? #3. Is Bob driving himself to rad treatments? #4. Can you arrange to work 1\2 days? #5. Do you need time away from work to recoup strength for yourself and manage your household? *I can only share our experience with you. John did NOT have chemo the 1st go-round. He did have 30 radiation tx. 1 a day. He drove 150 mi. down to Little Rock, spent 30 min. +- in tx. and drove 150 mi. back- 30 times. Some of those, I went with him and some trips he opted to do alone. But when he got home, he slept until the next time to get up and go again. After the tx was over, he slept almost continually for about 6 weeks. I was here and at the appropriate times during the day, I would wake him up to eat or drink. Every 4 hrs. or so. [which is why I asked how far away school is from home] While he was recovering from rad., the demanding parts of my day were being sure we had the proper meds and OTC stuff in the house and grocery shopping and cooking,trying to find foods John could swallow to augment his peg feedings.[and as most caregivers, taking over the household duties that used to be shared between us]. That being said, I still had time to help raise 2 grandkids and show up at our business. Truth be told, I really wanted to hover over John and HE really wanted to be left alone. My guess is you will have to make some judgement calls as you go along. But I will add that if you can gracefully take time off from teaching and use that time to keep yourself rested as well as help Bob, that could be a good thing. There are many caregivers here-myself included who will be glad to talk to you at any time. Chin Up! Amy