A Delicate Balance: Staying on Track with Treatment, Work & Family

 

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 38, my children were young and my career was in full swing. Throughout my cancer treatment, I continued to take care of my family and work at my job. And I did it all while trying to keep my mind off the treatments I’d often receive later in the day.

Looking back, I’m glad I did what I could to maintain a sense of business as usual. That’s because I believe we should give cancer just enough of our time to get rid of it!

But I still had hard days. Once, when I went to an ATM banking machine, I stared into the camera and said aloud, “Do you know that I have breast cancer?” I guess I just needed to vent. 

There’s no way around it: Breast cancer will play havoc with your schedule, and interfere with your duties as a mother, wife, and employee. That’s why it’s important to talk to your boss, colleagues, and family members about your treatment schedule, how you’re feeling, and how your treatment may affect them, too. 

Many women receive breast cancer treatment and carry on with their professional lives. It helps to be surrounded by supportive co-workers and bosses. You may need to come in late or leave early some days, and there may be times when you won’t feel well enough to work a full day.

Your boss will need to be flexible about your schedule during your treatment. Check with your human resources department to find out whether you’re protected by the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The act allows “eligible” employees to take off up to 12 workweeks (not necessarily paid) in any one-year period under certain conditions, including a serious illness. FMLA time can also be taken on an intermittent basis, enabling an employee to work a less-than-full-time schedule.

On the home front, be sure to let your children know what kinds of changes will be made to their usual routines. For example, if you think you may come home from treatment feeling exhausted, tell your children in advance. Let them know that Daddy may be getting dinner or helping them with homework tonight since Mommy isn’t feeling well. 

It’s also important to explain your treatments to your children. Some women bring older children (ages 6 to 12) along during a chemo treatment to help the kids better understand what is actually happening. 

When life gets hectic, staying organized can provide peace of mind. For example, if you’re scheduled to have chemotherapy, make a chart of your treatment schedule. You may also want to ask your chemo nurse to try to schedule your treatments toward the end of the week so you’ll have the weekend to rest up. 

Always make the day of your chemo treatment as relaxing as possible. Depending on who’s around to help you at home, you may decide that chemo days are “pizza nights,” or a great time to heat up those casseroles your neighbors so thoughtfully delivered. 

If you’re trying to keep to a regular work schedule during radiation, it might be easier to have the treatment at the beginning or end of the day rather than in the middle. Most radiation facilities can get patients in and out in less than 30 minutes.

Whenever you get the treatments, give yourself time to recover. Get some extra sleep time at night or take a catnap during the day. Finally, if you start feeling tired of all those medical appointments, and fatigued by the treatments themselves, remind yourself that each treatment is bringing you one step closer to your goal: becoming cancer-free. 

 

Lillie Shockney, RN, BS, MAS, is the administrative director of the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center. She writes a regular column for Health Monitor Network. Ms. Shockney, who is a breast cancer survivor and a healthcare professional, also speaks to audiences across the country and has written books about breast cancer