Question for nurses with cancer

[midcom]

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

[midcom]

"The way to handle this is that if it is recommended that you have chemotherapy and you decide to do it, then request a medical leave of absence from work. The doctor will give you a letter telling them why you need it. The hospital should give you no problems about granting it."

I wish it were that easy, Daytonite but I have only worked there 2.5 days. They don't have to grant it to me or hold my job. I'm still on orientation. They could let me go for any reason. Although it would be nice, it isn't good business. They need a nurse; that's why they hired me. They also had other applicants who probably can do the job as well as me and since they have only invested a few days training me, they are better off starting over with someone else. I understand that, however, if I had been working there at the time of my diagnosis, you can bet I'd be fighting really hard for the job and insisting on a medical leave.

I have read several of your posts where your cancer was mentioned and I am so happy that you have completed your chemo. Hope all is going well and am sorry that your side effects were so severe. Both my parents had colon cancer; we lost Mom to it because she was too proud to admit to anyone that she was bleeding rectally & let it go until it was a stage 4. She opted to not go through chemo as the oncologist only gave her hope of a few extra months with it. She lived 17 months after her diagnosis & was able to care for herself until about 6 weeks before her death, even flying from Iowa to Texas to sell her property 6 months before she died. In her case, I believe she made the right decision. I am considerably younger. Unless the opinion of this second doctor is very different from the first, I will choose chemo & deal with my job however I have to. I have a very beautiful 2 year old granddaughter. I want to be an honored guest at her wedding. Since my son says they aren't going to allow that until she's 40, I have to stick around a long time.

Dixie

[AlsgalRN]

Dixie,

I don't mean to make it sound like the treatments were easy. They were not. But I absolutely, positively HAD to work through them. At the same time that I was diagnosed with breast cancer, my husband was diagnosed with ALS. Our health insurance is through my employer. I was offered disability by every doctor along the way but refused to accept it. We just cannot be without health insurance. Also, I felt like I needed to save every moment of PTO so I will have it when he begins to need more care. If your situation allows you to take some time off for treatment, that might be a good idea. I believe that you will make the choices that are right for you. I was able to do all of the telephone triage which allowed me, for the most part, to stay away from the patients. My coworkers LOVED not having to take their turns at that assignment and I was sheltered from the "bugs".

And as for being bald, I was one of those folks who walked around bald. My wig was itchy and I thought I looked like a doofus. I had some cute hats and scarves but mostly just went bald with my head held high. If people asked, it gave me a chance to encourage them to get their mammos. Our hospital found that many of our staff/families do not get their mammos so put on a media blitz. The posted the stories of 5 survivors to encourage folks. Every single staffer has e-mail and every single one of them got a photo of me and my bald scalp. I got lots of emails from women who said that I had motivated them to get their mammos-------some for the first time. I LOVE having hair again but being bald was not the worst thing that has happened.

If there is anything I can do to help, please, just let me know. Even if you just want to vent, I am here. You are in my prayers as you make the right choices for your care.

Hugs from Robin

P.S. I don't know how to use the private message function here. :-( You may reach me at [email protected]

[midcom]

Thanks again for all your concern & support.

I wanted to share how my day went today. Today was my second opinion at Iowa City. As I expected, the oncologist agreed with my oncologist in Waterloo. However, they had discussed the case & he suggested a different cocktail, one that isn't as hard on the patients. The original plan was Adrianmycin & Cytoxan every 2 weeks X 4 followed by Taxol every 2 weeks X4. The new one is Cytoxan & a "cousin" of Taxol (or visa versa) every 3 weeks X4. He said it is their goal is to not upset the woman's life any more than necessary. He didn't say it would be easy but he said he thought I could still work, if the treatments were scheduled before days off.

I also heard from my supervisor. She was going to talk to HR about the situation & was going to go to bat for me. However, she didn't need to. They were totally accepting of working with me on this, even saying that if I wasn't able to work, they'd let me take a 2 month leave. Unfortunately, they wouldn't be able to save that job for me but would find me a position in the system when I returned so I wouldn't be without a job.

So, next week I call the oncologist & find out when they want to start it all. I know he wants me to be completely healed. My incision is healed nicely but I still have a nasty seroma.

Dixie

[Jolie, BSN]

" I am considerably younger. Unless the opinion of this second doctor is very different from the first, I will choose chemo & deal with my job however I have to. I have a very beautiful 2 year old granddaughter. I want to be an honored guest at her wedding. Since my son says they aren't going to allow that until she's 40, I have to stick around a long time.

Dixie

This part of your post really hit home with me. I was diagnosed with cancer (not breast cancer, though) when my oldest daughter was 6 weeks old. I remember fervently praying that I would have the honor of dancing at her wedding and holding my grandchildren in my arms. So far, so good. We were unexpectedly blessed with another daughter 3 years later, and we are all in good health.

My work situation was a little different, though. I intended to cut back to part-time after having my baby, so full-time work was not a concern. Neither was chemo, as surgery was essentially the only treatment available for me.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that you will dance at your granddaughter's wedding!

[AlsgalRN]

Dixie, I took cytoxan and taxotere q3 weeks x4. It sounds like the same protocol that you will be using. GOOD LUCK!

[midcom]

Dixie, I took cytoxan and taxotere q3 weeks x4. It sounds like the same protocol that you will be using. GOOD LUCK!

That's it exactly! Thanks again Robin. That gives me hope.

Dixie

[midcom]

A little update. As of last Tuesday, I am 1/2 way through my chemo & so far, so good. No nausea, no vomiting, sore tongue & mouth but I can handle that, fatigue, and severe neutropenia. I spent 3 days in the hospital with a URI I picked up at work & then shared with the rest of my family. To make matters worse, my hair decided that was a good time to start falling out & I had hair all over my bed & my hospital room floor. I've had to take a few days off from work due to the neutropenia, when the oncologist said to stay away from people. This time, I'm experiencing some bone pain from the Neulasta but I'll take that if it helps keep my WBCs up.

My job is still going fine. This week is my first evaluation since I was hired. For the most part I have been doing OK & really love my job. I find that about 3 days after chemo, I am a bit vague & that bothers me because I know I can do better. It doesn't pay to try to learn something new at that time as it won't stick anyway. Friday was one of those days. Unfortnately, I was filling in for a nurse & it was my first time with that doctor. I felt pretty scatterbrained but he was OK with it. I am very fortunate that all the physicians I work with are very compassionate & patient with my situation.

Thank you all for your good thoughts & prayers.

Dixie

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

Glad to see your update, I am an eleven year survivor. I took a FMLA which allowed me to flex my hours. I average about 30-36 hours a week. It seems like you are a real survivor. Things will get back to normal after chemo.