Have any of you resumed work during Doxil chemo?

I have been scheduled to return to work full time next Tuesday after an 8 month medical leave.  I was surprised last week with a recurrance diagnosis however I still want to return to work- and my onc encourages me to do so.  I just turned 50 so I'm relatively young with no other heath problems.  I have a management position fortunately that allows me very flexible hours/ work from home if needed, etc.  I begin Doxil next Friday and want to know if I should expect side effects that may make this difficult.  I know everyone is different but would love to hear your experiences.  Thanks  Rachael

[SimplyStar]

Your body will tell you if this will work.  Daughter thought she could do it, but found out second day that she got tired very easily. She went to half days and will do that for another month. Getting out and doing what you enjoyed before at work is good for the spirit.

[baguba]

I returned to work last week after 8 months off, as well. I found that going in for a full day was way too much for me (I am taking year maint. program - Taxol).  So I am planning to go in for 20 hrs. a week.  I think the relaxed attitude I had when I was at home led me to believe that getting back to work would not be that hard.  I am 62, and although very healthy otherwise, found that in my case I need to get back into the groove gradually.  Everyone is different. Your body will let you know what you can handle and what you need to go slow with. The warm welcome back was wonderful medicine for my soul, and I do love what I do; so I think you owe it to yourself to give it a try.  Good luck to you; and don't take on too much right away,  Good luck with your treatments, as well.  Keep us posted!  Judie :)

[stephers]

I just had my first Doxil on Tuesday of last week, wednesday, thurday and friday I was very very tired, no I don't think I could have worked. Saturday however I felt alot better but still a little tired...today still tired but I did go shopping.

[RAS50]

Thanks to all.  I agree that going back to work will be good for my spirit since I love what I do and the people there.  I figure that since I could be fighting this damn disease for a long while, I cannot let my entire life revolve around cancer treatment.  I definitely will take your advice and let my body tell me how much to do here.  I am hoping side effects are minimal.  Will keep you posted.  Rachael

[gail47]

After my first initinal treatment in 2002, stage 1c grade 3 ovarian cancer.  Had surgery and 6 treatments of taxol and carbo.  Was off six months and went back to work.  I myself also a manager and worked for the government and could work out my own schedule.  It was rough at first but I finally gotten back into the swing of things.  Three years went by and I had my first reccurence in 2005.  Had surgery and 6 treatments of carbo.  went back to work after six months. Six months into work still did not feel well, week and tired, body aches all the time, taking pain medication everyday, people at work getting on my nerves, just got tired of it all and it was not worth it to me. After six months of this I figured out that I was not the superwoman that I use to be.  I thought that I would bounce back like I did in 2002 after my first initinal treatment (not).  I had a talk with my doc about me not working anymore and he agreed.  This was in March of 2006.  I had stop working in March of 2006 and had my second reccurence the next month in April. When this happen I knew I had made the right decision to stop working.  There was more things that I wanted to do. Live the way I wanted to.

[baguba]

I think it's a "gender" thing; we women are way too hard on ourselves.  When it comes to work, I want to be the one who says it's time to leave....not the disease, or my doctor.  Maybe it's a control thing, too, but after all we go through, there is very little that we truly have control over, so I say we exercise that power any chance we get.  Thank you for the information.  If I may ask just one more question, did you have any symptoms with either of your recurrences?  Your CA 125 was so low, how did they find the new disease?  If you gather that I am paranoid, you are right.  I am constanly looking over my shoulder and waiting for the other shoe to drop. I really want to request a full body scan, and think I will when I see her next week. Isn't it amazing the choices we have since first diagnosed?  Some of the drugs available now were only in the trial stages back then.  This is definitely encouraging for all of us here on this forum.  I truly believe there will be a cure; and in the meantime all of us who are fighitng like **** just need to hang on and keep believing.  God Bless!

[baguba]

Gail - I read your post and your experience seems so similar to mine.  I, too, was dx. in 2002 Stage 1c Grade 3. First let me say that I am sorry that you have to go through this again, and I hope you are doing well. Would you mind my asking?  When you recurred first time, where was the disease located?  Why did you take just carbo and not taxol with it?  Also, when you recurred in 2006 did you have surgery again?  And what chemo were you on then? What do they do to follow up with you now?  I understand how you feel about not bouncing back as you did with your initial treatments.  That is what makes me so disappointed.  My husband is quick to point out that I am almost 5 years older now and of course it's going to take its toll on my body.  I'm glad that you were tough enough to make the decison to leave work.  I may  have to come to that bend in the road, and it's encouraging to hear others who have been there and are doing well.  Thank you for sharing this.  God Bless.  Judie :)

[gail47]

Hi, I am doing well and I have been taking Doxil every since April 06.  Last scan was good and scheduled to take one next week.  With my second recurrence I did not have surgery just started treatments with the Doxil.  Had a few small tumors come back and some lymph nodes. First recurrence I had a ca125 of 8 and had about 100 spots my doctor said too many to count and 4 good size tumors/lymph nodes and I did have surgery.  My tumors were sent off to a place where they test the tumors with different types of chemo.  I think my doctor only had taxol and carbo tested and he told me that the taxol would not work but carbo would in strong doses and it did a really good job.  Now I take Doxil and see my doc every month and I have blood work done every week.  My ca 125 in November was less than 5.  Will have to check and see what it was for dec and jan.  My husband told me that I should not have gone back after the first recurrence.  I told him that I had thought about it.  He said that I wanted to be a hero and he was right.  I felt like I had to prove something to myself. (Superwoman) but it didn't happen.

[A Rebel Spirit]

I am taking Doxil and working. I have had 2 treatments so far. Experiencing some fatigue, but not too bad. I do take several days off after my treatment. Whether you can work while taking Doxil is up to you. Everyone is different and every job is different.

[RAS50]

I returned to work today.  It is great to be back and focused on something else besides cancer.  My staff decorated my office with lots of confetti, decorations, posters, etc.  I guess even though it's a mess, this means they are glad I am back!  Get my biopsy official results tomorrow; scheduled for chemo on Friday; plan is Doxil right now and I will play it by ear regarding hours I work.  Thanks for all your support!  Rachael

[baguba]

Rachel~ I am so glad you had such a great "welcome back" return to work!  It is amazing how we can forget what our bodies are going through when we take the time to focus on something else.  I am glad that you are feeling well; good luck with your biopsy reports and treatments ~ you're going to do fine.  Keep that positive attitude!  Blessings - Judie

[gail47]

With my first I notice that I had this pain in my stomach. I didn't pay any attention to it and this was in Feb. 05. I notice that I started to take pain medication for two weeks for this pain I was having and I started to feel tired and I started having hot flashes again.  It had been two years since my last hot flash and when I start having them I called my doc and he schedule a scan.  I had a tumor wrap around a part of my large intestine.  With my second I was feeling the same way.  My back and stomach was hurting all the time and I was not in the mood to be given pain medication and push to the side.  I ask for a scan to ease my mind and I am glad I did.  After my first initinal treatment I was aware of recurrences, but I went on with my life as though it was not going to happen to me, but it did.  Who knows just because it happen to me that way does not mean it will happen to anyone else the same way.  It may not ever come back again.  I wouldn't worry so much about it.  Just live and do the things you enjoying doing and keep the Faith, its powerful.