I will have a go at this question:

I worked as an Oncology nurse prior to diagnosis but mainly I was a stay at home mom. I picked up shifts every other weekend as it was important for us as a family that I raise my kids up not someone else. I worked approx 50hrs per month--I know, I know, big worker, huh?LOL I got paid very well as I was specialized in my field, so I didn't have to work a bunch and we just used my income as an extra. I, of course had to stop once I was diagnosed and my job was held for a year. I am not able to return due to the lack of strength to give full care to patients, the 12+hr shifts and pure fatigue so I'm now getting disability and enjoying taking care of my kids instead. I believe strongly in enjoying my family, making memories and living life to the fullest.

When I was diagnosed last May, I was determined to lead as normal life as possible. I called the radiation treatements a "bump in the road". I scheduled tx for 7am so I could have most of the day open. My treatments were a 15 min drive from home. For the first half, 16 or so tx, my energy level was decent and my challenge was dealing with dry mouth and sore throat. I had no problem working, playing golf, kayaking on the lake. About half way through, it seemed that I hit the wall and my energy level really fell. I cut my work schedule back to half time. Two weeks after tx completed, my energy was back to a level that I could work full time. Two months after tx completion, I took a 10 day bucket trip to Tuscany with my son.

My adventure with oral cancer was "a walk in the park" compared to many, for too many reasons to list. But without question, a positive attitude and faith in God played a major part.

After my first round of OC, I returned to work part time aprox 6 weeks after finishing chemo and radiation.

The second round of OC was only surgery but it knocked me on my butt. It was only 7 months post treatments that I had the recurrance. I was still recovering from the first round. I didnt heal and was very fatigued. It took me 4 months to return to work.

Next was round 3 which was 14 months later. It was almost exactly 2 years after my original diagnosis. This time it was a huge operation and Im still recovering 10 months later. I just returned to work part time but it wears me out. It was necessary to return to force myself to face the facts. Physically and mentally cancer has weakened me so much that I am not able to work at this time. I am retiring this week.

1999 my first tongue operation very little work missed. I think I took off about 2 weeks after surgery to regain my ability to eat.
2000 3 months after surgery neck/lymph metastasis with a modified radical neck dissection and 6 weeks of radiation. I don't remember the time off for the surgery. I remember being face down in my keyboard at the office a few times. The face down was diabetes related. It was a tough time to live with both cancer treatment and diabetes. I got to know the paramedics by name at my house. I kept trying and I'm stronger for it. 2 months after radiation I completed a 10K running race in a sub hour time. Fun but not relevant. I worked in a hospital at the time. The employee community came through for me with financial help when my sick leave ran out. Patient accounting spent the next 2 years driving me to financial ruin - literally - >$700 a month on 13 doctor bills. Anyway.
The last couple of times have been better, sort of. I have short and long term disability now. My job is patient and they know I work as hard as I am able to. I have not missed a bunch of time but I did lose a few weeks in the hospital with chemo and radiation treatment. My work panicked and hired two people to cover for me. They welcomed me back and life is ok now. It's important for me to work, mentally and financially. I'm only 40 and do not plan on letting cancer take any more of my life than it already has. I don't fight myself. When I am tired I rest and when I feel good I go and do. It has been my experience that coworkers and family and doctors can be supportive and kind but they have to be informed. I communicate with them all about progress and setbacks. So far so good.
mark

Hi Tony,
I aready answered this question on the 13th June when you posed it on another thread.
Do you have one of those bucket list's. Makes for interesting reading when you google it
How often do you need to be seen at the hospital now for follow up?
My delivery of the OCF wrist bands arrived today and if you email or send me a PM with your address I would like to send you one.
Gabriele

Hi Tony,

This is a question which I have been pondering as well. I am facing surgery similar to yours in a couple of weeks, and have been wondering how things will progress afterwards. My surgeon has said to tell work I'll be gone for a couple of months, which I have, but who knows how it will pan out.

I was fortunate to have been self employed the last time, three years ago, so I just shut up shop (metaphorically, not an actual shop) and we lived on my wife's income until I was in a state to ease myself back in to work.

This time round, I definitely have an uneasy feeling that maybe I shouldn't be spending whatever remains of my time in this world doing a job that, while I certainly don't hate it, isn't the highlight of my life. On the other hand, we have a young, growing family and the fact is you need money to survive, so some sort of work is always going to be in the picture for me. One thing I have decided is that I definitely won't be pushing myself back into it. Health (both physical and mental) has to come first now. We are extremely fortunate that my employer is very understanding, and also that both sets of parents are in a position to help out financially while I am not working.

I think for most people it boils down to the relationship you have with your job. If you're lucky enough to be one of those people who loves their job, you will naturally wan't to get back to it.

Just my $0.0168 worth (the exchange rate is slipping again...)

Cheers
Jules

hey guys
i didnt have all the chemo and radio, but they damaged my radial nerve during the graft (upper arm) which left me with constant pins and needles for 3 months and an arm/hand that didnt work...

the pins and needles meant i couldnt sleep for more than 2 hours or so at a time, so was really tired all the time.

If that hadnt happened (the arm) i think i could have gone back sooner than i did, which from memory was after about 2 months or so...and that was 2 days a week spread across the week.

after about 4 months had passed i progressed to 5 or 6 hours most days.

after 6 months (and still now) i do three full days, and bits and pieces of the other two. I'm going to try keep a 3 day base, as im not desperate for cash, and as much as i love my job there are other things i love more!

cheers
jon

I agree with Jeff. Stay as active as you can. I worked through out the treatment except for the surgery. Scheduled rad tx on my lunch breaks. Lunch was easy with the feeding tube....turn in my cubicle, pull it out, and throw down the liquids. Dr. thought I was crazy, but he followed my wishes and I was traveling the week after the neck dissection...staples still in place. Hard part was the month I couldn't talk at the end of them nuking me....but I was still productive and my coworkers were happy I was quiet.

Keep moving...

Hi
I returned to work 3 weeks after treatment finished but that was due to hubby leaving & I wanted something normal in my life. It was tough & is still tough, oh boy I get soooo tired. Very pleased to back at work though & full time. Yes Im giving myself a pat on the back!
PJ