Working during Treatment

Recently I was asked to write about my experience in continuing to work while going through treatment for breast cancer, and my thoughts on ways supervisors may be able to best support employees with short-term or chronic illness.

As I wrote in a previous post, although my direct, administrative manager and co-workers were very supportive throughout my treatment, my direct principal created a harsh work environment for me. This brought undue stress. However, I played my part in allowing it to continue.

Many people have to work through their treatment, and there are laws in place to protect employees from discrimination during short-term or chronic illness. Here are several links that may be helpful when faced with employment issues during a serious illness:

www.cancerandcareers.org

cancer.net/survivorship/life-after-cancer/cancer-and-workplace-discrimination

livestrong.org/we-can-help/managing-your-life-during-treatment/employment-issues

I think the biggest factor is that there is fear on both sides. Fear from the employee over potentially losing their job or losing various aspects of their job, and fear from the employer of diminished job performance from an employee while they are going through treatment (and possibly after treatment).

While it is a personal decision on the part of the employee about how much information, if any, they decide to share with their employer, supervisors and co-workers, I do believe communication is key here. Employees and their direct supervisors should be willing to develop a positive, ongoing rapport about the employee’s work environment, treatment regiment, potential side effects, needed time-off, alternative work accommodations and possible work goals throughout and after treatment.

It may be beneficial for direct supervisors to better inform themselves, in general terms, about the type of illness an employee faces, the types of treatment, side effects and possible complications associated with that illness. Being more informed may help them to better support an employee who is going through treatment.  Keep an open mind and heart.  All businesses have a human element and this is a time to focus on that.

Trust is needed from both sides to bring positive results.  If an employee feels supported, they are more likely to return 110% or more in job performance and productivity during and/or after treatment.  Employees, in turn, need to be forthcoming as to their capabilities and limitations throughout treatment.

I will state, however, that there is a fine line.  I can attest to having divulged too much information at times.  Unfortunately, I don’t believe anything would have helped my particular work situation.   On a number of occasions I spoke with my direct principal to better inform her of my status and efforts to maintain good job performance and a positive work relationship between us only to have her dismiss all of that later.

It can be difficult to continue working through treatment.  Chemotherapy and surgeries, side effects and complications, constant doctor appointments, being poked with needles on a daily basis and all the serious medical decisions can be emotionally, physically and psychologically draining.  It was for me, and working in a harsh environment did not help.  Unfortunately, financially I didn’t have an alternative.  My MedOnc wanted me to take three to five months off for chemo, but this single girl had to pay the bills.  I will say, however, that going to that job every day (aside from treatment and sick days) gave me a sense of purpose and did help me combat some of the side effects of treatment, such as fatigue and depression.

I hope the above information helps someone out there.  Every situation is different and should be handled with care.

Livestrong Girls

Last night I met up with the girls I did the Livestrong survivor fitness program with at the YMCA when I was undergoing chemo.  We meet every couple of months now for drinks, food and a fun time laughing and commiserating over our cancer experiences.  We have a lot of camaraderie!  It’s our group therapy time, and what’s better than cocktails and some girl talk.  Each of us experienced a different cancer and different set of circumstances, but we all can relate to the challenges we faced.   We’ll have to take pics next time.

I was happy to hear from the other women that, like me, none of them had suddenly turned into a totally zen, super health-obsessed, fitness guru.  Not YET anyway (I’m still hoping I’ll get there).  We were still enjoying a hard drink and greasy food.  It made me feel better as all this time I’d been beating myself up for falling short of not having already become a huge superstar of health, wellbeing and enlightenment.  Why haven’t I fully accomplished this yet?  Why hasn’t it happened sooner and faster?  What the hell is wrong with me?  I mean, when you survive what we have, you really have no choice but to stand at the crossroads and re-evaluate your life.  I know I’ve been given this second chance, but I’m still majorly stumbling back into old, incredibly unhealthy habits. 

Why haven’t I already dropped to 115 pounds and live solely on organic lettuce and microgreens grown by my own two hands in my backyard, drink only purified water and meditate five times a day?  Well, I don’t know about getting to 115 lbs, my goal weight isn’t even that small, but I know I need to make serious changes. 

The wild thing is that although I certainly haven’t drastically changed everything in one fell-swoop, my life is changing, incredibly!  It’s true, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and my transformation won’t happen that way either, and that’s okay.  It’s OK!  It is happening!!!

Everything in its own time, right?  And always a work in progress!

 Shoulda, woulda, coulda no more!!! – Deb, get the hell out of here and move to Belize already!  Just keep a room ready for me to come visit!!!  Geez, maybe I should think about moving to Belize.  Will ponder.  ;-)

Off with the wig, Baby!

Okay, so this morning I decided it was time to go rogue at work, so off with the wig!!!  Finally!!!  They are so hot and itchy!  My hair is still super, super short but at least covering my head enough, I think.  I’ve gotten rave reviews from my co-workers, so that’s good!  Here are a few wigless selfies I took today at work.  Wig be damned!  Yay!

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Chemo Brain ?

   I think I may have a little bit of chemo brain goin’ on.  One of my attorneys is not happy with me as I booked her on economy instead of first class.  Oh, the torture!  Another asked me for a manilla folder and I started to give her an envelope.  Then we had a complaint to file in a New York court which I totally could of looked up the rules which state you have to file an initial complaint in the traditional manner instead of through ECF, but I didn’t.  Not a good day at work!!!  :-(

Damn old fart – WHAT?

So my hair is coming back.  Yay!  Only thing is it appears to be coming in gray with white hairs here and there.  Yikes!  I’m not old yet–Way too young for gray and white hairs!!!  Ugh! :-(  I guess at least it is coming back in.  I’ve noticed my eye lashes and eye brows coming back too.  I had another follow up with my surgeon today and so far everything looks good and seems to be healing fine.  That’s all good news!

New Pre-Surgery Treatment Combination More Effective For Women With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Adding the chemotherapy drug carboplatin and/or the antibody therapy bevacizumab to standard presurgery chemotherapy increased the number of women with triple-negative breast cancer who had no residual cancer detected at surgery, according to results of a randomized, phase II clinical trial presented at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

An increasing number of patients with triple-negative breast cancer are receiving chemotherapy before surgery, a treatment approach called neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In about one-third of these patients, no identifiable cancer cells are found in breast tissue and lymph nodes removed at surgery performed after the neoadjuvant chemotherapy. These patients are said to have had a pathologic complete response and have a much lower risk of cancer recurrence compared with patients whose cancers do not respond this well to the neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

“Our study was designed to find out if adding either carboplatin or bevacizumab to standard preoperative chemotherapy would increase the percentage of patients in whom cancer is eliminated before surgery,” said William M. Sikov, M.D., F.A.C.P., associate professor of medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, R.I. “We are excited to report that adding either therapy significantly increased the percentage of patients in whom cancer was eliminated from the breast, and that adding both was even more effective.

“While our results show increases in pathologic complete response rates with both carboplatin and bevacizumab, we do not yet know how large an impact, if any, these differences will have on cancer recurrences or deaths. Although the study is not large enough to detect significant differences in these endpoints, we plan to follow patients for 10 years after their surgery to see if patient outcomes suggest long-term benefits from the investigational treatments.”  Click here (http://www.hopkinsbreastcenter.org/artemis/201401/14.html) to read the rest.

The above was taken from an e-mailed article sent through the Pink Ribbon Cowgirls.

An End to 2013 and My Crap Year of Cancer!

Yay!  As the year of 2013 comes into its final hours, I sit in my cozy living room next to a roaring fire and drink pink champagne and enjoy the chocolate truffles my friend, Charlotte, made.  A very nice and relaxing celebration to the end of a bad year.  One full of a cancer diagnosis, TONS of doctor appts, a lumpectomy, five grueling months of chemo, a very serious blood clot, three months of blood thinners, and the cherry on top, a double mastectomy.

Yesterday I had a second follow up with my breast surgeon.  I stated I was still having some pain.  She stated it was most likely due to the drains.  She removed the drain tube from my right side but left the drain tube on my left side because it’s still draining a good amount of fluid.  I go back in one week to hopefully have the other taken out.  No infection or anything though.  Good news!

I also had an afternoon appt with my oncologist yesterday.  She was practically doing the jig in the exam room, saying, “yea, aren’t you happy, no more cancer!”  She said she was so happy for me and asked what my plans were now.  I told her I now have to get ready for reconstruction.  She said she was going to refer me to the Star program for rehabilitation to get me on a good fitness program.  She stated she wants to see me more than normal to track my progress in order to get me to my goal.

I was invited to a couple of parties tonight, and down to the lake in my little, lake community to watch fireworks, and even though I have been spending so much time snuggled on my sofa recuperating, I’m quite enjoying this quiet, cozy, pink champagne and chocolate filled end to a dismal year.  I just finished watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  What a classic!

I look forward to 2014 with an excited hope that I don’t think I’ve had previously.  Today was a beautiful, winter day in the Texas hill country.  I stepped outside feeling refreshed.  The day was sunny and crisp and I felt my prospective on everything around me has shifted slightly.  Maybe even much more than slightly.  I pray this next year brings amazing joy, incredible adventure, vibrant health, positive changes and happy gifts of love and life beyond my wildest dreams!  I hope for simplicity, abundant happiness, romance and incredible wealth in all aspects of my life, and for those I love in my life!

One final thought, remember to eat your black-eyed peas tomorrow! ;-)

Goodbye, Chemo, Goodbye

My last chemo treatment happened on Thursday.  Yay!!!  Truthfully, I was a little apprehensive.  I know that sounds weird, but no more systemic treatment is a little scary.  So happy to be done with Taxol though!

My close friend, Beth, came up from Houston bearing lovely gifts!  Another friend, Julie, also came to hang out with me at treatment, and my father was there too.  Unfortunately, you can’t make it too big a party as you may disturb others who are there for treatment.  We had a great time though, talking, laughing and taking pictures.  I rung the bell at the end to say, “yes, I’m done with chemo!” :-)

I had a special cake made for my infusion nurses and the rest of the staff.  See pics below.

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