I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 26 and was working in a LTACH (long term acute care hospital), and it was so stressful. I had only worked about 10 months or so as a nurse, and was diagnosed and have been out of work since. I have a double mastectomy, with tissue expanders, and 4 months of chemo and 6 weeks of radiation. My body has been beaten down and now I feel like an 80 year old woman =( ...I can't imagine going back to floor nursing! I use to do 12 hour shifts, and right now I am lucky if I can stand for more than 2 hours. And the pain from the surgery is there all the time, especially when I do anything active using my arms and chest muscles (it has been 7 months since surgery). I have never spoken to a nurse in my situation and can't find anything online. Every nurse I have talked to that has/had breast cancer was diagnosed after being already retired, so work wasn't a factor for them. It would be SO nice to speak to someone whose been through this, and what they did. I started applying to nursing positions at doctors office etc, but still waiting to hear back. I am extremely nervous to get back into the field, especially because I still have to have another surgery in 6 months, so I am going to have to tell my new employer about my diagnosis eventually. Any advice would be nice! Thanks for reading
