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When to return to work after radiation ends
I am a 60 year old female I had my right tonsil removed in February 2024, CT scan prior to removal had shown no cancer but because it was larger than the left my ENT wanted to remove it just to be cautious. After surgery the ENT told me it looked suspicious and he removed as much neighboring tissue as possible. Lab results came back positive for HPV 16. Waited 3 weeks did a PET scan and NavDx blood test both came back negative, but because the margins were close and it showed some vascular invasion my oncologist suggested I do radiation. I completed 33 sessions of radiation on May 31, 2024. I’ve been off work since second week of May and was expecting to return to work July 1, however my throat is still sore, eating is challenging, I’m still somewhat fatigued and I’m still spitting the extra saliva and phlegm in my throat into a cup most days. I manage a restaurant so I need to be on my feet and talking a lot. At this point I just don’t see how I will be able to return then. What have others found was a good time frame after treatment ending to go back to work? Also how long did the extra phlegm and saliva linger after treatment? Thanks for any input!
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I totally understand your concern. I went through the same radiation last year but no surgery. I completed my radiation treatments early May of 23. I went back to work mid May. Same issues, couldn’t swallow with out pain, still on pain meds, and dealing with wondering if it would ever go away or my life return to some normality. It took me several month to gradually get better. By Christmas I was about 85%.. A year later, May of 24 I am very close to full energy, pain free, and plenty of energy to work. I am 68.
I want to encourage you that you will recover. I understand you tire much sooner than before, so rest as you need to. There is a line in Psalm 138 that says the Lord will perfect all that concerns you. My key is write down all those concerns and give them to Him. You will recover.
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3 ReactionsI finished 28 radiation treatments last September. I returned to work full time a week after. I was 64 at the time.
The issues were largely around a lack of voice, so conference calls and Team meetings were difficult.
Hi @lanig and welcome to the Head and Neck group.
Your story similar to mine. For me it was the left tonsil.
The radiation does a lot of uncomfortable damage which in some work situations is not a good match. For me, a traveling engineer, it wasn’t easy in the first few months although initially I returned to work and hid for two months in an office. That isn’t an option for you obviously. Would part time or perhaps something away from the customer eye be available for a couple months?
You will get better over time but radiation recovery is very slow, like a burn recovery. On the other hand you might find that most customers are understanding if you find you are not at your best with them by simply letting them know you are recovering from cancer treatment and not back to 100% yet.
Good healing.
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1 ReactionHi Laing, I had 35 radiation treatments ending 5/22/24.
Had terrible phlegm and saliva issues, had to sleep in lounge chair. This is 6/18/24 and most phlegm issues are gone. Hope this time frame happens to you too.
It’s going to get better.
Hi there,
Back in 2008 had tonsil cancer and it was in 3 lymph nodules one being almost 8cm, so I had 35 rounds of radiation which amounted to 70 Gy and 3 rounds of the platinum-based chemo Cisplatin but no surgery. In looking back at my notes, I was out on short-term disability for a total of 16 weeks that includes before treatments also and then had 4 transitional weeks before going back full-time. Keep in mind, my job requires me to talk a lot every day.
You will get better. Hope this helps. Good luck.
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3 ReactionsDave, Thank you so much for sharing your experience as I’m sure we all can’t wait to get back to some sort of normalcy in our lives.
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1 ReactionMike, thanks for sharing I’m hoping it will be better next week, keeping my fingers crossed. I also have been sleeping in a recliner with a humidifier going seems to help.
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1 ReactionOh my, I forgot to mention a humidifier helped me immensely.
Went through many boxes of Kleenex. Tried sleeping in bed and as soon as phlegm started gagging me I went back to recliner, eventually my time in bed increased until I no longer had to use recliner. Hang in there, you will get better.
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2 ReactionsHello @lanig
Well I hope you’re on your way to a great recovery!
As for me things weren’t so good. I had too much cancer to consider surgery and my oncology team insisted that I apply for disability right away because I would never return to work again.
I thought that not returning to work was hogwash but I applied and was surprisingly approved…
Well I’m sure glad that I followed their instructions because I’m 7.5 years out now and am still not recovered enough to be able to work a job!
I was a Deputy Sheriff K9 handler and trainer and my long list of post treatment issues would make me a danger to myself and to others so that’s a moot subject.
I also was a heavy equipment operator prior to LE and I tried doing that in my friends gravel pit and that made me so miserable that that’s not an option either.
Just remember that no two people are the same and we all respond differently to treatment.
Wishing you the best,
MOJO
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