Fatigue When Getting Rads after Chemo

PamCA

Hello everyone,

I have 2 more chemo treatments of T/C to go.  After that I am supposed to do 6 weeks of rads.  I was wondering if some of you that have done chemo and then rads, could tell me how bad the fatigue is and does it get worse as you do more rads?  Also, could you tell me if more ROs start your rads right after chemo ends or is there a break between chemo and rads to allow a little rest between them?  Thanks so much.   

 Pam

Elizabeth1889

PamCA, I finished chemo in the beginning of June 2011 and I saw the RO for the first time less than three weeks later. I had the mapping CT scan done two days after I saw the RO and I started the actual radiation treatments in the beginning of July. There was a month between chemo and rads so I did not feel especially tired during the beginning of rads. The fatigue usually starts after a few weeks of rads, but I do not think the chemo made it any worse. Good luck with your last two TC treatments. How have the side effects been for you?

doxie

I started rads one month after chemo.  I had anemia, so was really fatigued going in. Initially took long naps on the weekend and naps after work. Rads were in late afternoon.  After about three weeks, the anemia resolved itself and I coasted the rest of rads w/o much fatigue at all.  I worked full time throughout.  If there was a silver lining, for one with insomnia, I slept really well throughout the treatment.  

Peacock

I think you are free to influence the timing, too, as I did. My RO was ready to begin rads almost right away (I met with her the day after my final chemo and she had the calendar out), but I wanted to go on vacation first. I had mapping etc and start 9 am the day after I return from Puerto Rico.

 My oncologist was the person who suggested the vacation 

Megadotz

Hi,  I started  rads  (breast + node -35 sessions)   three weeks after my sixth sessions of TAC.  My RO explained that until the last couple of weeks rads, the fatigue from the rads would be offset by the increased energy of recovering from chemo-- so it was kind of a wash.

I think it also helped that I gotten at recognizing fatigue and dealing with it from my experience with chemo.  I worked through both chemo and radiation, I had the earliest betimes since I was a little kid during that period, but got through thing pretty well.

The radiation fatigue doesn't have the roller coaster highs and lows that I got with chemo. The RO was right about the washout period that didn't have  higher levels -- and the end sessions didn't add that much.

For many of radiation is a lot easier than chemo, but everybody's different.

Here's hoping your radiation experience is as good as mine has been. 

fairweather9

Hi,

I started rads at the end of April, I'm only having 14 treatments but also had my first A/C chemo at the same time.  They are doing the rads on my spine, have a hairline fracture on one of my vertebra.

Well anyway I am exhausted. Getting to and from treatment everyday is kicking my butt.  I started off being able to take the subway back and forth, then I could make it on the train one way but spoiled myself with a cab ride home.  Now I'm just calling a car both ways (I have cancer I will spoil myself if I want) I can't wait for Monday, my last treatment, but then a few days later I get another chemo.... I honestly didn't think rads would be like this but man I have never slept so much in my life.

katyand4

I had three week break between chemo and radiation.  I have experienced some fatigue with radiation but I work from home so when I'm good I get it done and when I'm not I take it easy.    I think the worst part of the whole radiation has been the five days a week....can't stand that part but it has made the time go by faster.  Good luck!  

Anonymous

Have to agree with Katyand4. 

The daily schedule was hard, but I won't say that rads generally is easier than chemo, either. I had to wait 3 weeks between chemo and the start of rads. I did so well with chemo that I thought I wouldn't even feel effects from rads, but I'm fatigued. However, I'm not flat on my back in bed. I'm just sleeping earlier at night and when I'm able to take a nap I can fall asleep in minutes.  I've got 2 more weeks to go.

My skin so far seems to be holding up pretty well, so that's a plus.

Claire in Az

three17

I started my rads three days ago. I finished chemo 6 weeks ago. I can relate to claireinaz, I am wiped out more now than with chemo, and I am only in 3 days. I have 5 more weks to go. Everyone is different though.