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Fatigue is worse after radiation
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Mar 31 12:11pm | Replies (17)Comment receiving replies
Hi
I am very relieved to read your post.Sometimes you think you're going crazy with this recovery. The fact that they tell you you'll be tired for 3 weeks.Really ticks me off . It wasn't until I called my radiologist's nurse and asked her about the fatigue and she said oh yeah you can have this anywhere from six months to 5 years. like you i would not have done it. My cancer was stage zero DCIS Hormone positive her two negative. I.
Really did not think I would have such a difficult time recovering. I am 66. I belong to breastcancer.org. They have amazing zoom meetings for women in breast cancer.At different stages, you should check it out.It is a great resource and you can share what you're going through with others. I am in the group that has completed treatment. It does not matter how long you have been done. I live in canada. I will check out the classes you told me about. I have Q-gong you tube classes. I just can't seem to get motivated and I know I have to. Since winter hit I have been doing not enough. It is now spring So I am going to make sure I get back outside and Walk. I live alone , so I think I have it difficult. Your friends thinks that once you're done treatment it's over and they disappear It's very hard to explain to them that you aren't well Like you were. Thank you again 💓 for your response. I just wanted to tell you.I also had lung damage from my radiation on my right lung. It appears to have been getting better. My friend.
Got the pneumonia shot and she has been sick with it for 3 mths. I hope you recover soon.🙏
Replies to "Hi I am very relieved to read your post.Sometimes you think you're going crazy with this..."
Thank you for sharing this post. It has helped me so much. I am also 66, I had 3 surgeries prior to radiation for invasive ductal carcinoma, followed by radiation. I am now post- radiation 42 days, and still experiencing daily intense fatigue, brain fog, vertigo. My oncologist is trying to start me on hormone therapy, but keeps needing to take breaks from that, as it intensifies the fatigue, vertigo. I was told some physical issues might get worse after radiation was completed. But when I go into my oncologist's office I'm met with a shocked look and the question, "So, what's the problem"? As if I should be feeling great at this point? However, his nurse did tell me that my current symptoms are common for all of the cancer patients she works with. Usually for several months after treatment, some longer. I think all we can do is what you and I are already doing; eat well, get as much exercise as we can, stay current with our follow-up Doctor visits, & stay hopeful and positive. Take care!
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Hi Sue,
I had stage 2 invasive carcinoma. The tumor was 6 cm (I was not that large but it was so deep in the tissue that it wasn't found by the mammogram) I also had lymph node involvement. They took out 26 lymph nodes, although only 3 were cancerous. I ended up with stage 2 (irreversible) lymphedema. I am now waiting for an evaluation for surgery for that. I didn't have a choice as to refusing treatment. It was do or die. Mine too was HR + HER 2 -. Because of the size of the tumor and the lymph node involvement I had to go on hormone blockers. I had a terrible time on Aromatase Inhibitors (became very depressed) so they switched me to Tamoxifen. Had a terrible time with that too, so at first I was taking a very small dose of it and I inched my way up.
I know, this winter has been freaky. I'm in New England where it has been extremely windy and cold. It is probably much colder in Canada. So I know what you mean about getting out. I too live alone. It is hard to motivate yourself to get up, much less get out. You've probably been told though that people who exercise regularly have a lower cancer recurrance. One thing that helps me is I have to sign up for the Zoom Qi Gong and the Moving for Life classes. That makes me make a commitment. I put it down on my calendar. The other thing is, when you are on Zoom you see other participants. And yes, there are people from Canada. There are over 160 people in the Qi Gong class! You don't have to turn the video on but you know you're not alone.
I love the way you were first told you'd be tired for three weeks... then you're told, "Oh, yeah, six weeks to five years." LOL. I'm glad to hear cancer treatment providers are just as deceptive in Canada as they are in the US!
Keep writing. We can give each other support and hopefully help others too!