So Many Questions about Recovery

peverson

I've heard from several BC treatment survivors that it took about a year after treatment ended for them to feel kind of "normal." I'm wondering about how you all did. I walk most days (was going to an exercise class until I pulled a muscle) and do PT for tight muscles in abdomen, back, and chest.

I had my first surgery last March, then chemo for about 5 months, then radiation for about 2 months, then Femara, then a prophylactic mastectomy and salpingo-oopherectomy in December. I have trouble getting going in the morning and, if this makes sense, usually feel tired behind my eyes most of the day. Some days are better than others. It's not as bad as just after treatment ended, but I still feel frustrated with my lack of energy. I'm feeling some pressure to return to work and don't know how that will be. But I need that insurance.

SO FRUSTRATED because I didn't feel like this when I got the initial diagnosis. It came as a big surprise--never felt the lump even when I knew it was there. So I'm trying to climb back and just feel down when I don't have the energy.

How do you all avoid stories about cancer, as a side note? It's everywhere. I'd like to be able to ignore all those stories, but sometimes it's hard, especially when it's a kid. Then I freak out about those lymph nodes. I hate this disease.

Sorry to be all over the place in this. Having kind of a hard day.

americanpinay

Hi Peverson,

It's probably hard to believe right now but it DOES get better with time. Everybody heals differently. It took me a few months to get back to my exercise routine. I did NOT exercise when I was undergoing treatment. I also followed my onc's "recommendation" to eat what I want while I was doing chemo.  

My advice to you is that you be kind to yourself while you are recovering. Hang in there.  Take care.

Celtic_Spirit

I rebounded pretty quickly, but I've always been high energy. Two months after radiation, I was hiking and bicycling again. But it's quite normal to take much longer. If your onc isn't worried, you're probably fine. The fact that you are walking and exercising is definitely a good sign.

During treatment, I watched a lot of TV and movies to escape. One of my favorite shows is "House," and it seemed like on every episode, someone had cancer or was getting chemo! Made me crazy.

ktn

You have had ALOT done and should be tired!!! I had mast, chemo and radiation. I was off work for 7 months and when I went back I decreased my hours for awhile. I tried to walk during treatment but sometimes even that was hard. Yesterday I had my checkup with the radiation MD for 2 years after radiation visit. I feel fine these days but have learned to take care of myself too. I had been told it takes about one year from final treatments to feel better but you also had added surgeries. Your body is also dealing with menopause stuff. All of this recovery takes time and each body is different. Take it a day at a time and things will improve!

kathleen1966

Aside from the herceptin I will get for the rest of the year, I am nearing the end of my treament and I also feel tired. I too think about how I felt at the diagnosis.  Not tired and healthy. Now, after nearly seven months of treatment and still some time to go, I am scarred physically and emotionaly, now have lymphedema and will have to deal with that for the rest of my life, of course have the scars and then have odd guilt because I see my two young kids and know I have to treasure every moment with them but am too tired to do so at the moment.  I hope it changes. And a good friend who helped me through treatment in terms of moral support has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was given weeks to live. She is also my neighbor.  I live at the top of a hill and her house is the view we have when up there. Every time I see the house, I think of my friend dying inside of it. So I guess I don't have any good advice for you but just wanted to let you know that I can relate to how you are feeling.  I assume that time will help and also summer. Winter has been long here and I need some greenery and the option to be outside gardening....this will make me feel better I hope. So I guess in time we will feel better. I know this is not at all helpful and I apologize! 

weesa

Pevereson, your diagnosis and treatment are similar to mine except your tumor was a good deal smaller. It took me about six months after rads to get back to normal except I had a lot of problems with the Femara. Now, so long after treatment, it is hard for me to remember how crappy I felt, and you will get here, too.

peverson

Thanks for the feedback. I should also mention that I had been sick several months before the diagnosis, with a stomach virus that shut down the muscles and led to a 25-pound weight loss. I also nursed my young adult son (doing well now) through testicular cancer surgery and chemo the summer before. Yeah, terrible stuff.

anonymice

Oh Kathleen, how very hard for you, I'm so sorry! 

pupfoster1

Peverson,

I TOTALLY get where you are!  I still have times where it's all consuming, but those are getting to be lesser and lesser (however, I am worried right now about some back pain---BLAH).  

I get tired very easily and am the same way in the mornings.  Sometimes after I drop my kids off at school (7:30ish) I come back home and go back to bed until around 10.  Really has messed up my "old" workout routine.  I really need to force myself get back into it as I am about 15-20 pounds over what I should be!  And trust me, the nodes thing still flips me out---I had 13 out of 15!  But we have to try and remember we got the "big guns" so hopefully they did their job and killed any strays!!!!  I've said before, many of us suffer from a form of PTSD.  What's been irking me lately is all the Race for the Cure TV ads PLUS the Avon Walk at the same time.  Both my kids are on the Youth Crew for the AW in DC end of April, but FOR GOD'S SAKES, the RFTC isn't until OCTOBER!!!!  When those ads come on I change the station for a minute..........

((((HUGS)))

Sharon