Radiation Treatments and Daycare

[SandeeAR]

Just wondering if anyone on here has gone through Radiation for Cancer and operated their daycare at the same time?

I just found out I have breast cancer and go tomorrow to get information on the radiation treatments. Second surgery is this Friday, August 3rd. (had one on July 20th that found the cancer).

From what I have read, fatigue is the major side effect. Just wondering if anyone on here had experience with this. I'm not closing except for the surgery. My DH and DD 30, will be here daily for one week to help me.

Thank you for any input.

[MizzCheryl]

I know nothing that can help but want to lend some support..
If there is any way I can help you let me know.
I hope all goes well and you do well with the radiation.
I will be sending thought your way. Is it alright if I pray for you??

[seebachers]

huge hugs......I can't offer any advice but will say a prayer for you.

[wahmof3]

(((((HUGS))))) and Prayers!!!

[youretooloud]

OHmygosh!!! HUGE hugs!!!! I am so incredibly sorry, and wish you didn't have to deal with this.

But, to answer your question, I have several friends who have or had breast cancer. One is a kindergarten teacher. She took the rest of that year, and the full next year off. She's in perfect health now, and in her 60s. I think it's been about three years now.

The others who did daycare all quit daycare right away. They can't expose themselves to illnesses from kids coming in sick. Sometimes parents are thoughtless, or sometimes, you just don't know the kids are sick until the end of the day...but, it's too late, you've already been exposed.

Plus, you REALLY need to rest. You just can't recover from this like you would if you were resting. Nothing heals the way it should if you are doing daycare. You HAVE to heal.

You need to be as healthy as possible. Eat the "cancer diet" foods, cut out all sugar, and rest. Cut back on your stress, everything. You just can't do it with other people's kids there.

Give yourself a year before going back to work. Women aren't expected to do it all.

What kind of support system do you have?

[Country Kids]

I have a friend going through this right now. I know that if she did work she would have had to quit. There were days she could barely get out of bed, be sick and I know there were days she had alot of sickness. She actually had some issues with her heart that gave them quite a scare.

If you would like to follow her blog please pm me and I will send it to you. Its great how they are letting family and friends know of her journey through this blog.

[sharlan]

First of all, I have had breast cancer twice. The first time I was diagnosed was in 10/91 (advanced third stage). The second time was in 4/2005. That one was caught earlier and was second stage.

Second, you will get A TON of unsolicited, rediculous advice, ignore it. What happened to someone's cousin's best friend's aunt will have nothing to do with you or your health. You do what works for you.

The first go 'round, I took a total of 2 weeks off because I was in the hospital recovering from a radical mastectomy with trans flap reconstructive surgery. I had chemo before surgery and a gf covered the afternoons that I had chemo.

The second time, I had two surgeries, chemo, then radiation. I was very tired, but continued to do my daycare. I had all of my chemos on Fridays so that I had the weekend to recover. I had my daughter to cover for me on chemo and radiation days. I took the kids with me to checkups, blood draws, etc. I'm sure my granddaughter (10) at the time could access a port better than some nurses.

I never had a problem with my immune system or caught anything from the kids.

[SandeeAR]

First Thank you for the replies. And YES PLEASE PRAY. I firmly believe this is in God's hands and he is in control. I know it is in his timing, not mine, so I will truck on LOL.

The dr. tried to call me just as I was walking in the nursery to meet my first Grandbaby. My DD and SIL were adopting their first child. I ignored the call and answered the one the next day. So in my opinion, not the best timing for this, but I know God has a plan.

I have no choice, but to continue daycare. This is part of our income, not play money. I only have five kids, one of them will be my grandbaby, starting the Monday after surgery on Friday. She will be two weeks old. This was such a short notice adoption, that DD didn't have time to set money aside for more than two weeks. She will go back 3 days a week. She will stay and help me anytime she is off, that I need it. DH will be here in the late afternoon, after nap time. So I will only have to get thru the morning, until nap alone.

[SandeeAR]

What kind of support system do you have?

Thanks for the hugs. I support system in my DH, DD and SIL. Along with several friends and Church family.

[SandeeAR]

Sharlan, sorry to hear of your cancer. Mine has been caught very early and very small. Radiation only, no chemo. I plan to keep working. Will meet with radiation dr tomorrow. Hopefully then I will have a better picture of the time involved.

First of all, I have had breast cancer twice. The first time I was diagnosed was in 10/91 (advanced third stage). The second time was in 4/2005. That one was caught earlier and was second stage.

Second, you will get A TON of unsolicited, rediculous advice, ignore it. What happened to someone's cousin's best friend's aunt will have nothing to do with you or your health. You do what works for you.

The first go 'round, I took a total of 2 weeks off because I was in the hospital recovering from a radical mastectomy with trans flap reconstructive surgery. I had chemo before surgery and a gf covered the afternoons that I had chemo.

The second time, I had two surgeries, chemo, then radiation. I was very tired, but continued to do my daycare. I had all of my chemos on Fridays so that I had the weekend to recover. I had my daughter to cover for me on chemo and radiation days. I took the kids with me to checkups, blood draws, etc. I'm sure my granddaughter (10) at the time could access a port better than some nurses.

I never had a problem with my immune system or caught anything from the kids.

[Sunchimes]

I just want to say I'm thinking of you and will remember you in my prayers.

My husband had 16 radiation treatments (every weekday for 3 weeks). His biggest problem was being tired, but he didn't miss any work. (He had a fairly physical job, but he was self-employed with no employees, so he kept working.) He said it wasn't the easiest few weeks of his life, but he got through it. I wish the same for you.

[sharlan]

FYI, buy yourself a big bottle of aloe and use it every single day after radiation..

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

We will be praying for you. I wish I had the funds to send you money so that you could take time off. You are fantastic! Your husband is such a blessed man and your family is a blessed family to have a woman like you. lovethis

[Hunni Bee]

Im glad it was caught early. I will also pray for you and hope for your speedy recovery

[DaisyMamma]

I wish you the best recovery.
Do your families know?
Perhaps you can hire a temp assistant to get through the radiation. Even a couple of days a week or a couple hours a day might really help. Good luck.