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Return to work after primary mediastinal large B cell lymphoma
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Oct 4 2:11pm | Replies (6)Comment receiving replies
@loribmt thank you so much, Lori for your input and insights. My oncologist is not quite ready for me to return to work, but I’m also at a point where I either have to separate from my employer or meet the minimum requirement of working at least 1-2 shifts per month. My supervisor is willing to allow me to cover outpatient and I will only see 2-3 patients. I know there is still an inherent risk, but I also feel like this is a good deal for me and I’m ready to start reintegrating back in a small capacity. I appreciate the advice about masking. Going into flu season, I don’t want to take any major risks with my health. Although I completely understand my oncologist’s concerns, part of me also knows that at some point I have to start taking these steps. I presented the plan to her about the accommodations and special requests for my work. I’m waiting to hear her thoughts on that.
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@pachecotc I think your employer’s suggestion ‘to keep your foot in the door’ is a very generous compromise! I would think 2-3 patients per shift with only one or two shifts per month is a really good compromise and a good way to ease very gently back into the workplace.
If you’re in a hospital setting generally if there are patients coming in for appts, they’re asked if they have a fever, new cough, etc. So that can be helpful with initial screening so you can ask them to mask up. And it’s not unusual at all for medical professionals to be wearing masks during appointments. I was just at Mayo for my annual followup and every staff member in the transplant unit was masking. It’s a really easy way for us to avoid airborne illnesses.
I can feel the trepidation though, having been through similar myself. Baby steps getting back out in the general population! ☺️. Hopefully your oncologist is comfortable with the offer ahead of you.
You mentioned your low blood numbers yet. It can take a while after that last chemo round to recover. Have the numbers been steadily increasing?