Testicular Cancer and Chemotherapy...can you work while taking chemo?

[Zorro]

Dr Steve:

I have an employee (22 y/o). On Monday he will begin Chemotherapy for testicle cancer. Non-something; sack something not really sure of the exact type. Anyway...he seems to think that he can work during chemo. I keep hearing that he'll be totally too ill.

Do you happen to know anything about this?

Thanks,

Z

[Dr Steve]

Dr Steve:

I have an employee (22 y/o). On Monday he will begin Chemotherapy for testicle cancer. Non-something; sack something not really sure of the exact type. Anyway...he seems to think that he can work during chemo. I keep hearing that he'll be totally too ill.

Do you happen to know anything about this?

Thanks,

Z

Zorro:

It totally depends on the type of chemo he'll be taking. Some kick your ass, some really don't. If I knew the tissue type OR the name of the chemo regimen he was taking, I could tell you more.

You could certainly ask for a note from the doctor, as a concerned employer.

Let me know if you get any more information and I'll see if I can help at all.


your pal,



steve

PS: this guy is a gem. I don't know too many 22 year olds who wouldn't use chemo as a reason to take some time off work! Whether he can or can't, you need to keep him (hell, give him a raise!) once this is all over.

[EliSnow]

As someone who actually went through this himself, I can verify Dr. Steve's opinion. It may be possible for him to work while he goes through chemo.

When I was sick, I had to have four rounds of chemo in 4 months time. Each round was 6 days, 24 hours hooked up to chemo. So I obviously couldn't work during the week. After the hospital, I defnitely wasn't able to work, study or go to classes (I was in my first year of law school at the time) for two-five days after the session. The recovery time after the first session was two days but by the fourth session, it took 5-6 days to recover. Other than that, I felt normal and strong enough to work, study, etc.

But that was my experience 13 years ago, with my type of testicular cancer. I don't know exactly what it is today, but if the cancer has spread throughout his body, his situation could be different.

Still it's definitely possible for him to work during that time.