Just finished

kathyob

Hi everyone. I just finished radiation yesterday and have been having some surprising emotions. I felt actually sad leaving there. It felt like a place where people really understood. I am feeling a bit unsettled, and anxious about the future. Anyone else experience this? I also continue to feel pretty fatigued, and am having trouble running and exercising, which I love to do. Thanks !

raincitygirl

kathyob -- I had the same emotions.  I guess I'd had this place to go where I liked the staff and the other patients who were there for the same reason.  I knew that every week I would also check in with my rad onc - I felt protected and supported.  On the other hand, I was so damn fatigued, I couldn't even whine   Fatigued is different than tired, it is a tired that you don't recover from after a good nights sleep.  Good news is that it only lasted a few weeks at the end.  I am just 90 days from done and can say my energy, etc. is normal.  Now, as for those nasty pills.....

kathyob

Thank you both for your replies...I felt the same way, protected and supported. It's odd, my family and friends have been absolutely wonderful, but it was great going somewhere where you felt people really understood you.

I am three weeks out now, and have more good days than bad but it seems like if I do a lot on one day...like exercise too much or run around after work a lot, I am pretty exhausted the next day. 

How are you JBinOK after your masectomy? Are you healing well? 

And yes, Raincitygirl...I have to admit to procrastinating with the nasty pills. Going on vacation with my family next week and thought it might be best to hold off til after in case I have SE like the mood swings. I don't want to subject my family to that!! Have you started?

peggy_j

I finished on May 18. (hurrah). On my "exit interview" with my RO he mentioned that patients often feel a lull after Tx is over. (he didn't use the word lull, I forget how he described it, but definitely some emotional sense of loss). His advice is to try to resume your old routine and make an effort to get back to normal as soon as possible. I'm not saying this well, but he did talk about this for quite awhile. (and of course, it's easier said than done). Just an FYI that's it seems common enough for my RO to bring it up. FWIW, my energy level is still up and down.  I'm definitely feeling better, but I have one good day (decent energy) followed by a low-energy day. It can be discouraging  but I know I"m on the right path (and I notice my body responds better when I pack it with healthy food)

CTMOM1234

Congratulations!!!!! And yes, after falling into this odd zap routine, it feels quite unsettling to be done and expected to just go about one's merry old way. But let me tell you now that I'm 1 year out and with no drama, I LOVE having it behind me and have no desire to ever revisit that again! 

GabbyCal

I'm only halfway done, but expect I'll feel a bit lost once this daily routine and weekly doctor check is over. This post-treatment letdown is also mentioned in Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book as being common.

So, we have yet another struggle ahead. The challenge to get back to "normal" when "normal" has changed dramatically.  

kathyob

Such a good way to put it GabbyCal...sometimes it floors me when I think of being diagnosed, and everything happening so quickly. Seems like a dream sometimes. It's hard to get back to normal. I feel different, but just now sure how yet:)

edwards750

Hello everyone - I am almost halfway through my treatments but wondered how many of you guys had the bone scan after your treatments? My nurse who is an angel said it is SOP. I am terrified that they will find mets in the bones. I asked her if you could tell like what would the symptoms be and she said unless you have a hip that keeps hurting and gets worse there are no symptoms. Just another frightening hurdle to deal with followed by my first mammogram since the diagnosis. I know we all will be living with the C word for the rest of our lives so better get used to the anxiety. She also told me 95% of the women she has seen recovered and are fine and I should feel less anxious because my cancer was caught early, its early stage cancer, non aggressive and small tumors. I try to be more optimistic and do feel blessed but cant get passed the fear factor. diane