Ladies, Hope a few of you can relate and give me your experiences.
I am just getting ready to start my rads (simulation Wednesday, tx starts Thursday) and then embark on the rest of my noncancerous life. Wish it were that easy! I have been struggling for a while trying to figure out how to get back to it. Do I start looking for a job while bald (maybe wear a wig to the interview), move closer to family just in case of the worst, move to the beach to fulfill my lifelong desire? Now my sister, who is living for the next year in Russia, has invited me to come and stay with her and her husband for several months - for free. She makes this sound very lucrative by telling me how I would save money for several months so it wouldn't really deplete my depleting savings account (actually, what's left of my IRA), would be a nice break, etc. I will take any thoughts on the above.
Other than just trying to figure out what path to take, I am afraid of actual physical harm with activities. So far, I do not have lymphedema, despite having a node dissection, and hope it doesn't happen with radiation on top of it. If I decide to fly, I have a lymphedema sleeve on order, but do I need the gauntlet as well? Has anybody actually returned to a fairly physical job after a node dissection? If I move to the beach, do I have to stay indoors (because the lymphedema people say avoid temps over 90 degrees)? Actually, I don't know where in the world you would live where it doesn't get over 90 unless it's northern Alaska, but Florida doesn't seem to be a choice.
As a single woman, I need to get to work and start increasing my retirement savings, but do I need to take a break first? Probably I need counseling!! lol!! But unless my counselor is a "survivor", I would take their advice with a grain of salt. Just looking for thoughts.
Barbi