Work and radiotherapy

Recently, several people have expressed surprise when I've told them I worked all the way through my radiotherapy treatment. For some reason - and I think I probably used to think this too - there seems to be a general impression that if you have radiotherapy, you won't feel well enough to work. In some cases, this may be true, but, in others, people work all the way through their treatment, simply calling in at the radiotherapy unit on their way to or from work. While I was attending the hospital on a daily basis, I met many people who were working. They all said that they were quite tired - though it may be that the daily travelling is what causes fatigue, it seems to me - but that they found being able to carry on with their jobs was what kept them cheerful.

In my case, I had had to give up full time work due to ill health before my diagnosis. Once I knew what was wrong with me, it was clear that this was why I had been feeling ill enough to resign. I did, however, continue to work part time in a different role for the same institution and I still do so. It must be said that during the week leading up to surgery and for a few weeks afterwards, I was on sick leave and didn't work at all. This, however, was not because I didn't think I would be able to; rather, it was because I teach, and my students were at a vital stage in their course where they needed someone who would be able to react rapidly and promptly to their needs. For about 10 days, I was out of contact - all my work is done online - and so a colleague very kindly took over my group for me until the end of the course. As soon as the next course began, however, I was fit to work, and I'm still doing so. Not only that, but I also do voluntary work that requires me to go to my place of work for several hours every week.

So, if you need to have radiotherapy, you may well find that you can continue to work through the treatment if you want to do so. Obviously, this varies from case to case, but the common perception that you are a complete invalid is not necessarily true.