I'd say the writing is on the wall for your situation. The promise of returning to the classroom after you've undergone treatment is the best call. That day will come and it will be better than you can even imagine now.

I don't know there must be people who will risk it and opt the route of returning to work in those type of situations, but my health and my family comes first.  I will happily return to work once this is done.  Perhaps starting the new year on a positive note will be in the plans for me.  Thanks for replying!

I truly appreciate your feedback and support!  I will go through treatment, heal, and then return to work.  My family and I are my number one priority right now for sure.  Wishing you the best always!

Monica 

I was diagnosed with TNBC in July 2012. I went through 8 chemo treatments and 3 weeks ago had a lumpectomy. I will start 6 weeks of radiation next week. I have worked full-time the entire time. Actually I started a new job 3 weeks after my first chemo treatment. It hasn't been easy, and there were days that I wanted to just fall asleep at my desk or go home early, but I didn't. I had chemo every 2 weeks on Thursday, so  I would just take the treatment day off since it took half the day, an then I was back to work the next day. There were many of my treatment days where I would leave chemo, go home and take care of the kids and go to their baseball games. I am a single Mom with no family close, so I do it on my own. I was blessed that the chemo never made me sick, just exhausted, but I vowed to myself and for my kids, that I would not let this cancer take anything away from me,. It's been very humbling to have to go to work at a new job wearing a goofy wig and having no eyebrows or eyelashes and pretending to feel fine when I didn't, but for me, keeping my life routine the same,  is what has gotten me through :)

welcome to our TNBC Foundation family and thank you for sharing. I am so sorry you have need to be here.

My mother was a single mom, too, since I was 6 and I have a special place in my heart for all the single moms who go through cancer and chemo under even more difficult circumstances than others.

Your strength is a lifelong example of courage for your children and an important inspiration for all in our wonderful family.

Two thoughts-have you seen a Certified Genetic Counselor and been tested for the BRCA mutation?

Would you like a book, as a gift, that I think may been an important resource for you? I am friendly with the author of this book, Jackson Hunsicker, who, herself is a breast cancer survivor. It is called Turning Heads and is s lovely book of pictures of 50 women, all bald from chemo and short vignettes about them. The clear message is "you may have taken my hair, but I am still here" and their elegance and beauty is apparent. 

I will send you a PM and please send my your address and I will send you a copy. I promise not to use your info for anything else. If you are uncomfortable doing that the book is on Amazon. 

good luck to you!!!!

warmly,

Steve

You are not alone. I too was a single parent going thru it all. The radiation was a piece of cake after going thru chemo. Just so inconvenient trying to schedule and go daily. Working for me, was desirable for all the above reasons women gave. And I was self employed....so not really an option. My daughters, now adults, weren't real affected as I tried to keep everything "normal" for them. 

Good luck to you. The end is in sight.