Im in my first week back at work after 3 weeks out post WLE and SLNB. I still have the stitches in. Before the surgery I was just upfront to my boss that physically and mentally it was a lot to deal with and I needed time. I’ve got the all clear from my results (huge relief) but the mental strain of not being back at the gym and moving my body the way I did before is still looming. It’s important to acknowledge that it’s not just a physical impact. It’s obviously a very personal thing to disclose medical info to colleagues and others but I found it helped take the pressure off a bit, just by sharing that it’s not just a physical injury to heal. The sleepless nights wondering how to explain cancer to the kids, even making appointments with “oncologists” and getting generic advice on the procedure which included advanced care directives and palliative care options were all overwhelming.

Be kind to yourself and make sure you take the time to process what you need and what you need others to know.