Fatigue after radiation

Hi
Hiw long have you been done treatment

Finished in July, 2024…

Two-three months after radiation ended (Nov 2024) my breast started itching--and I had a rash--i.e. spots of reddened skin. Before that skin on breast was extremely dry, but not itching and no rash. I will see radiologist for follow-up mid-Feb 2025. Luckily for me, I had only a couple of days of extreme fatigue.
BTW, I think it's really helpful when others share their outcomes--good or bad. Sadly, perhaps because they are protective, doctors seem to underplay side-effects. Sadly, also, that policy causes more worry than good. Knowledge is power!

Hi
I agree, doctors totally down.Play side effects from radiation. I have never been anemic in my life and three weeks Blood work showed I have anemia. I still am it's been 9 mths. I am on a Iron supplement. Things have come up a bit but it's slow. I called my radiologist He says it is not from Radiation but everything I research says it's common in breast cancer. They totally downplay the fatigue.

@artistmanager, a couple more weeks have passed. How are you feeling? What helps you pace yourself?

I just finished treatment #20, and these last three days as soon as the treatment was over, I just wanted to curl up and sleep.
I get energy back later in the day, but right now, I want to go to sleep!

Your body has been through a LOT during radiation. Fatigue is overwhelmingly the biggest side effect I have seen in myself and my family with radiation. Everything I can find to read bears this out.
I can tell you from only my experience it took a few months to get back to really being able to work all day without hitting a wall. I had a year of surgery, chemo, and finally radiation and, it took a good year before I really felt like my energy levels were normal again.
Truth is, this feeling of energy for me was short lived as just a few years later after my first relapse, I never really felt like the energizer bunny again.
Let yourself rest when you need to, with any luck you realize one day that your energy has returned.
How many more treatment do you have to get?
Are you able to schedule the rest when you need it?

I am amazed by how tired I feel three weeks after radiation to my left breast. I am always feeling guilty about having no energy and needing a lot of sleep. I had a lumpectomy and removal of 24 lymph glands and am also on letrozole. I wonder if it is this cancer journey or my age which is 79.

Hi
I had a lumpectomy to my right breast, 1 sentinal node removed. 20 radiation treatments. My fatigue hit at week 3 and lasted 11 mths. I did not take the hormone blockers. What your feeling sounds pretty normal. Listen to your body rest and try to do sml walks 15 min outside if you can. I couldn't at the beginning. Give yourself the rest it needs. Take care.

Thanks Sue, that's comforting. I just hope my agreement to have radiation was worth it. I guess I am now part of the silent group "in recovery ". My heart goes out to all these courageous people who keep on keeping on.