Hi @aprilradek, congrats on getting through radiation! It has to be nice to have that behind you. From what I've heard from others, the radiation can continue to impact your energy levels, so try to not do too much. I worked for the first two years after I was diagnosed. I had a high-pressure job and the stress of everything was finally just too much to handle. I am fortunate to have the support of my past employer and my family.
Thankfully the alectinib has kept the cancer away. Everyone experiences side-effects differently, so there's no way to tell how you'll react. I have had different side-effects that have come and gone. I still struggle with some fatigue if I do too much, sore muscles take longer to heal, and I believe that I do have some brain fog which is hard to measure. My doctors keep a close eye on my kidney and liver functions, which go to abnormal levels now and then. I still need to watch my fiber intake and take something once in a while for GI issues. Early on most fruits tasted sour, but that went away in the first few weeks.
I took off work the first month after I started the therapy because I didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised that I was feeling much better after starting. I am stage IV, so that was my only treatment, and I was feeling pretty rotten before I started the alectinib. I'll only give it up when the cancer outsmarts the meds, hopefully years from now. Best of luck to you! Reach out if you have questions.