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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Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Oct 3 4:23am

@sue1417
I assume the fatigue is dose and length of treatment related. Last year I had radiation for stage 1 lung cancer. 3 treatments over a week. I thought I would escape the fatigue, but no it really hits you over the head- it got better over a few months.
Another peculiar thing happened- rib fractures. After 3 months I broke ribs on right side after an indoor fall- nothing serious I thought. Another 3 months later I fractured ribs on left side- by lifting something heavy. I was later told that radiation could make the ribs more susceptible to injury.

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sue417 | @sue417 | Oct 3 8:10am
In reply to @astaingegerdm "@sue1417 I assume the fatigue is dose and length of treatment related. Last year I had..." + (show)
@astaingegerdm

@sue1417
I assume the fatigue is dose and length of treatment related. Last year I had radiation for stage 1 lung cancer. 3 treatments over a week. I thought I would escape the fatigue, but no it really hits you over the head- it got better over a few months.
Another peculiar thing happened- rib fractures. After 3 months I broke ribs on right side after an indoor fall- nothing serious I thought. Another 3 months later I fractured ribs on left side- by lifting something heavy. I was later told that radiation could make the ribs more susceptible to injury.

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Hi
I am so sorry. That's horrible. I already have osteopenia and a compression fracture in my spine. I don't need that. I had 20 treatments in 10 days. I didn't think my energy would ever get better. The dr told me by 5th mth it shld start and it has. I hope you don't have any more fractures. I go for my follow up mammogram today a. A bit stressed about them squishing my surgical area.

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sue417 | @sue417 | Oct 6 7:30pm

Hi
So last month was 5 months post radiation.I was starting to feel better.Started to go to the gym.And doing more things through the day . October hits and now I have wicked fatigue again. I do not understand this. It's so frustrating. Seeing my gp this week. I want blood work done I want to get my thyroid checked. I know going off H.R.T has had a huge effect. I thought by now I would start to get my life back. Just depressed again.

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dgayle | @dgayle | Oct 7 8:56am
In reply to @sue417 "Hi So last month was 5 months post radiation.I was starting to feel better.Started to go..." + (show)
@sue417

Hi
So last month was 5 months post radiation.I was starting to feel better.Started to go to the gym.And doing more things through the day . October hits and now I have wicked fatigue again. I do not understand this. It's so frustrating. Seeing my gp this week. I want blood work done I want to get my thyroid checked. I know going off H.R.T has had a huge effect. I thought by now I would start to get my life back. Just depressed again.

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I am experiencing the same. I am eight months out from the radiation and had another major surgery only 1 week after I completed the radiation. So I thought I was starting to return to “normal” after all the hospitalizations. But I am now experiencing a lot of fatigue and sleeping 8-11 hours a night with naps also sometimes needed. Thought it was just me, but I am interested in knowing if anyone else is also having this experience.

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1 reply
sue417 | @sue417 | Oct 7 9:47am
In reply to @dgayle "I am experiencing the same. I am eight months out from the radiation and had another..." + (show)
@dgayle

I am experiencing the same. I am eight months out from the radiation and had another major surgery only 1 week after I completed the radiation. So I thought I was starting to return to “normal” after all the hospitalizations. But I am now experiencing a lot of fatigue and sleeping 8-11 hours a night with naps also sometimes needed. Thought it was just me, but I am interested in knowing if anyone else is also having this experience.

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Thanks for sharing. I am sure more anesthetic has affected you. There is not enough support after treatment ends as far as I am concerned. The radiology dept told me I would have some fatigue bit not that it would last a yr

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