I am not asking for medical advice.
I am a new grad who just started my first job this week as a float in a large clinic. I love my job & know it's a perfect job for me. However, I have a big problem. Last month, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a mastectomy & since the tumor was very small (stage 1 with no lymph node involvement) I assumed I'd not require more treatment. My surgeon felt the same way. When I was offered this job, I took it.
Afterward I did explain to my supervisor the situation & told her that if I had felt I'd be having chemo I wouldn't have accepted the job offer. She has been great about scheduling my work hours around physical therapy appointments.
Today I saw an oncologist for what I thought would just be a formality; that he would agree with what the surgeon told me. However, after reading my path report & going over some other information, he informed me that he thinks I need chemo too. This was such a shock as I thought it was all over with and all I'd require was checking ocassionally. He told me that I was really just on the edge between needing chemo & not needing it. I am going to have a second opinion.
My question to you is how did you do it? Were you able to continue to work during chemo? I know my immunity will be compromised. Will I be able to work in a clinic with all the flu & colds and other communicable diseases? Once I am done with my orientation, I will only be working 2 days a week plus every other weekend; do you think I could handle that? I might be able to postpone treatment 6 weeks or so & may be done with orientation by then. Once I know more from the second opinion, I'm going to talk with the supervisor. I may need to tell her sooner if I have to take off to go to the appointment as it's 100 miles away at a major medical center.
I am so upset right now. This job is my dream job & if I have to leave, I'll never find one like it. Stupid cancer!!:madface::madface:
Dixie