If you had a lumpectomy, how long did you have off work?

[HarrySnotter]

I had mine on Monday along with removal of some lymph nodes. I have just had an email from my work wishing me well and asking me to let them know when I will be back to work. I honestly don't know. I feel shit and really sore at the moment and am also feeling really fragile emotionally. I don't know what is 'normal' for this kind of thing.

I will be having radiotherapy in a few weeks time which means I will probably have to take that time off as the hospital is not local and there is a lot of travel time involved. I don't want to let my work down and I don't think they're 'hassling' me, just trying to plan ahead, but I don't know what to tell them. Any advice?

I had a lumpectomy in August. The hospital gave me a Fit note for 4 weeks before I was discharged. I thought I'd be fine to return to work before this but whilst I felt physically fine after a couple of weeks (ie once the dressing had been removed etc) with hindsight I'm glad that I had the note. It's a lot to deal with mentally and I found I got tired very easily. Still do.

I went back to work on a phased return for 2 weeks then started my radiotherapy. For the first 2 weeks I worked around my radiotherapy appointments but for the third and final week I booked some annual leave around my appointments. Most appointments lasted approximately 10 minutes or so but it was the getting there, waiting around etc. I found tiring.

I returned to work full time after that.

All I can say is don't rush back if you don't feel ready. Speak to the nurses at the hospital or go and see your GP if needed. It's not that big an operation but finding out you've got cancer is.

I had mine on a Thursday...and was back in work on the Tuesday(desk job)... I felt physically fine...and weirdly I love an anaesthetic. BUT radiotherapy I attempted to work thru and that exhausted me...and not particularly the travelling. And I think it might be because mentally I hadn't given myself time to recover. What I'm saying.. in a very long winded way is we are all really different and listen to your body....and act accordingly...

Oooh and I hope you're ok...the whole thing is a head fry...xxxx

the whole thing is a head fry.. Yep, I'm definitely finding this. The breast care nurses say too many people go back to work too early and end up off again. I'm a teacher and I just can't imagine standing up in front of a class all day feeling like this.

I'm a teacher too. 2017 was a bit of a write off. Lumpectomy and SNB in May. You can't drive for two weeks ( ten days) and it's actually the l6mph node bit that hurts the most and even now that still twinges. I had three weeks off and then half term then went back to work. I found things like dealing with our doors difficult - they are really heavy! Unfortunately, my margins weren't clear so I crammed tons of work ( i am the only person in school with my responsibility) and seriously ovrr did it. Had margin op in June. Took two weeks off and went back for two days before end of term. Bounced back from that one quite quickly. Unfortunately, margin still not cleared so third op in July. Decided that if that wasn't clear would have mastectomy. It wasn't clear. Husband and surgeon persuaded me to have fourth op in August. Surgeon went all out and basically ice cream scooped the area. Was very battered after that one. Went back to work on reduced ( hollow laugh) timetable in September. Far to soon. Worked for thefirst week of radio but just couldn't do any more. Was wiped out completely. Went back after Oct half term. Was ok but had awful fatigue this time last year. Think that might have been viral though. Have had sixty million blood tests and liver score isn't great - probs due to letrazole. - which is fine.

Schools are really hard places not to be on top form. If you are in then people want you and demand demand demand. You can't just sit a and do desk jobs. Would highly recommend that you take more time than you think you need. Cancer is a disability so they shouldn't be pressurising you. Your lymph node and hurty boob side will be tender for a while. Don't try and be superwoman.

Oh and the stress is a head fuck and it's really difficult not to get snappy with people and kids over trivial things. Also germs. I do junior and senior and did not teach over in junior while having ops and radio because of the snot.

Thanks Flyingarcher, I feel like I should be rushing back so that I'm not dropping school in the shit but I didn't really expect to feel like this just now. It's only been a few days since surgery so I suppose it's normal to still be sore. It's three weeks til half term and DH wants me to take that all off as well as the time required for radiotherapy to 'repair' as he puts it. I don't want to go back too early and make things worse but I also don't want to take the piss. I'm so tired.

I'm a teacher too. I'm disappointed your Head deemed it ok to email you to ask when you're returning. Shows a definite lack of compassion. Presumeably you have sent a sick note in. I'd reply with 'thanks for your concern. I'm not clear about when I will return as I don't know how long it will take me to recover. I will phone the day before my sick note ends to confirm if I will be able to return or need to extend my absence.

Slightly different case, but a few years ago I was teaching in Year 6, our school was due Ofsted and we needed to do well, my father was rushed into hospital on the last day of the half term holiday. I was actually in school prepping for the return to school when I got the call. My Head, who was also in school, sent me off, finished the display I was in the middle of putting up, told me to message her and keep in touch, but that she didn't expect me back in. I ended up being off school for 5 weeks in total, and during the time I was off Ofsted came. She told everyone not to tell me. I returned a week before the end of term, just before Xmas. She kept my supply teacher on for that week to ease me back in gently.
That's what you call putting teacher wellbeing above anything else.

I'm pretty sure my Head won't be like that @Soontobe60. I want to concentrate on recovery and worrying about this is stressing me out.

I am with Freddiemercury.
I had a mastectomy and ws straight back to work, NotHING was going to stop me!

Radiotherapy? 6 weeks, 5 days a week, 27mile round journey every day...... absolut3ly no way. I was on my knees.
Please don't try to be superwoman, take the time you need to fully recover.

I did not, and still regret it and feel the worse for it 8 years later!

@Toooldtobearsed2, thank you, the last line in your post puts things slightly in perspective. The radiotherapy is at a hospital 30 miles away from me, I know it's going to wipe me out.

I think as teachers we have this built in guilt thing. My husband too talked sense into me. When I thought I might have a mx with poss recon, all I kept thinking about was school. That's really stupid. Take as long as you need. The radio affected me straight after each treatment. I was lucky in that my hosp is only 15 mins drive from home. I managed to get home and as long as I could collapse and do absolutely nothing for two hours then I could get up and make supper and be vaguely functioning. I really don't know how I'd have done if the journey had been longer. The fatigue lasted afterwards for a while - allow another three weeks for that.

I found tumeric really useful for reducing inflamation. Arnica and magnesium tablets also good.

@HarrySnotter, just checking in to see how you are😊 Hope school is being supportive.

I was signed off for 2 weeks and I took them. That was enough for me but I have a desk job. Radiotherapy was local but even then I needed days off due to fatigue.

Being a teacher is pretty full on isn't it?

You might want to remind your head teacher that cancer is a protected characteristic under the Discrimination Act.

If they are just trying to plan give them a long date, seriously. Your health and recovery are more important.