1. < Breast Cancer

Fatigue after radiation

Posted by sue417 @sue417, Apr 3 4:31pm

Hi
Just wondering people's effects after radiation for breast cancer and how long fatigue lasts I just finished 20 sessions and I can't even begin to say how exhausted I am just trying to do normal things.

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deebee41 | @deebee41 | Sep 2 8:39am
In reply to @sue417 "Hi I will be going into my fifth month post radiation. So I thought by now..." + (show)
@sue417

Hi
I will be going into my fifth month post radiation. So
I thought by now my fatigue would be better but It seems to be worse. I Find now I Have it all day and At Six o'clock it leaves And I feel Normal. How do you keep your sanity is my question. Having brutal menopause symptoms along with fibromyalgia. I got a new g .p. Awaiting to get on some medication. He wanted me to track my symptoms for 1 month which I think is nuts because i'm suffering. But I have no choice. I see him the second week of september. He Says he's putting me on one medication Fibro, Menopause and,anxiety. Hopefully whatever it is it will work. I think that this post cancer treatment should be followed better.

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I had 45 days of radiation for prostate cancer years ago. My solution for fatigue was to have a quiet place to relax in and nap if I wanted . A close circle of friends is also very helpful. Now I am finishing 22 days of breast cancer radiation and find those things reman helpful. Being kind to yourself is also a way of healing and combating the side effects of treatment. Tell jokes , laugh at silly things and remember that you are not alone.

REPLY
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Sep 2 9:26am
In reply to @sue417 "Hi I will be going into my fifth month post radiation. So I thought by now..." + (show)
@sue417

Hi
I will be going into my fifth month post radiation. So
I thought by now my fatigue would be better but It seems to be worse. I Find now I Have it all day and At Six o'clock it leaves And I feel Normal. How do you keep your sanity is my question. Having brutal menopause symptoms along with fibromyalgia. I got a new g .p. Awaiting to get on some medication. He wanted me to track my symptoms for 1 month which I think is nuts because i'm suffering. But I have no choice. I see him the second week of september. He Says he's putting me on one medication Fibro, Menopause and,anxiety. Hopefully whatever it is it will work. I think that this post cancer treatment should be followed better.

Jump to this post

I had radiation 20 years ago. I had extreme fatigue from this. Radiation was at 4:00 pm every day. This was the end of a grueling year of treatments.
I would run my business every day until 3:30, then I would turn it all over to my employees and go for radiation. Most days I would go straight home (30 minute drive) and go straight to bed. Usually not waking until my husband came home 2 or 3 hours later.
I feel like I recovered from the fatigue, but if I am being honest, I still require a pretty high level of caffeine to keep moving all day.
Does anyone else here use caffeine as a regular stimulant during or after radiation? Anything else that helps?

REPLY
1 reply
sue417 | @sue417 | Sep 2 10:08am
In reply to @auntieoakley "I had radiation 20 years ago. I had extreme fatigue from this. Radiation was at 4:00..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

I had radiation 20 years ago. I had extreme fatigue from this. Radiation was at 4:00 pm every day. This was the end of a grueling year of treatments.
I would run my business every day until 3:30, then I would turn it all over to my employees and go for radiation. Most days I would go straight home (30 minute drive) and go straight to bed. Usually not waking until my husband came home 2 or 3 hours later.
I feel like I recovered from the fatigue, but if I am being honest, I still require a pretty high level of caffeine to keep moving all day.
Does anyone else here use caffeine as a regular stimulant during or after radiation? Anything else that helps?

Jump to this post

Hi
Wow 20yrs ago and your still affected 😢

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Sep 2 1:44pm
In reply to @sue417 "Hi Wow 20yrs ago and your still affected 😢" + (show)
@sue417

Hi
Wow 20yrs ago and your still affected 😢

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Yes, but I am still here to whine about it. 😂😂

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sue417 | @sue417 | Sep 17 4:49pm

Hi
5 mths from completing treatment. Still suffering with radiation fatigue. Does anyone else get depressed from physically not being able to getback to life. Some days I feel crazy. I had to go on an antidepressant from the menopause symptoms and losing 4 people while going thru treatment. Dic jog know it would be such a struggle

REPLY
1 reply
aprilradek | @aprilradek | Sep 21 4:08pm
In reply to @sue417 "Hi 5 mths from completing treatment. Still suffering with radiation fatigue. Does anyone else get depressed..." + (show)
@sue417

Hi
5 mths from completing treatment. Still suffering with radiation fatigue. Does anyone else get depressed from physically not being able to getback to life. Some days I feel crazy. I had to go on an antidepressant from the menopause symptoms and losing 4 people while going thru treatment. Dic jog know it would be such a struggle

Jump to this post

Hi,

I have the same struggles. Every time I make progress I have a setback. I just had to stop walking on our treadmill. I had worked my way up to 2 miles ( it takes 45 minutes) but today I couldn't even finish one mile.
I am not sure if my fatigue is from radiation ( it has been 7 months out for me), or my cancer drug (alectinib). My doc mentioned an antidepressant for me- But I am going to wait. It is a hard balance and the internal dialogue can bring me down. I am trying to have positive thoughts about the little things I can do- like today I tidied up my daughter's room for 15 minutes. I just made broccoli and it taste good. I feel you- and hope today is good.

REPLY
2 replies
sue417 | @sue417 | Sep 21 9:02pm
In reply to @aprilradek "Hi, I have the same struggles. Every time I make progress I have a setback. I..." + (show)
@aprilradek

Hi,

I have the same struggles. Every time I make progress I have a setback. I just had to stop walking on our treadmill. I had worked my way up to 2 miles ( it takes 45 minutes) but today I couldn't even finish one mile.
I am not sure if my fatigue is from radiation ( it has been 7 months out for me), or my cancer drug (alectinib). My doc mentioned an antidepressant for me- But I am going to wait. It is a hard balance and the internal dialogue can bring me down. I am trying to have positive thoughts about the little things I can do- like today I tidied up my daughter's room for 15 minutes. I just made broccoli and it taste good. I feel you- and hope today is good.

Jump to this post

Hi
Thanks for sharing it helps knowing others are struggling with the same issues. Been on the antidepressant 3 weeks anxiety calmed in the day but the side effects are horrid. Only on 5mg. Decided to cut down to 2.5 and see my naturopath. I was on 5htp prior to all this stuff it worked well. I havd a good counsellor. I hope you find some help.

REPLY
sue417 | @sue417 | Sep 25 1:39pm
In reply to @aprilradek "Hi, I have the same struggles. Every time I make progress I have a setback. I..." + (show)
@aprilradek

Hi,

I have the same struggles. Every time I make progress I have a setback. I just had to stop walking on our treadmill. I had worked my way up to 2 miles ( it takes 45 minutes) but today I couldn't even finish one mile.
I am not sure if my fatigue is from radiation ( it has been 7 months out for me), or my cancer drug (alectinib). My doc mentioned an antidepressant for me- But I am going to wait. It is a hard balance and the internal dialogue can bring me down. I am trying to have positive thoughts about the little things I can do- like today I tidied up my daughter's room for 15 minutes. I just made broccoli and it taste good. I feel you- and hope today is good.

Jump to this post

Hi
How are you doing. Have things gotten any better. I tried ciprolex but not the medication for me. Had severe abdominal stomach pain. I tried for 3 weeks. So doing my 5htp again but too soon to tell if it's going to give me relief. See the dr in 2 weeks.

REPLY
aprilradek | @aprilradek | Oct 2 1:15pm

Hi Sue,

I am okay- still plugging along.

How are you?

I started a local cancer class that meets once a week- about 10 of us.
I think the more support the better.

REPLY
1 reply
sue417 | @sue417 | Oct 2 5:29pm
In reply to @aprilradek "Hi Sue, I am okay- still plugging along. How are you? I started a local cancer..." + (show)
@aprilradek

Hi Sue,

I am okay- still plugging along.

How are you?

I started a local cancer class that meets once a week- about 10 of us.
I think the more support the better.

Jump to this post

Hi
I belong to a zoom breast cancer support group we meet Mondays 7:30 and Fridays at 1:00. I found it on breast cancer.org great people . Good to have support from people that get it. My 5htp is working anxiety is much better. Depression. Is getting there. My fatigue is alot better. Wrnt back to the gym 3 days a week. Glad you found a group

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