 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Jim,
I hope you are in physical therapy after the neck disection. You really need this to help with the scarring and rebuild muscle that may have been damaged.
As for working, you mention IMRT but not chemo. Are you having chemo also? You may have a better chance of working for the first several weeks if no chemo. I had only XRT and went down like a rock after 9 days with high fever, but was also back to work at desk job, no talking, 3 weeks after rads. It was a couple weeks too early, but like you I might have lost my job if I hadn' returned.
Play it by ear. How much notice does your employer need to know you will be out? Ask your docs what to expect. Everyone is different so it is hard to tell. You are young so you may fare better.
Take care,
Eileen
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Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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