fatigue from radiation

janicez

I just started radiation on Wednesday and I cannot believe how tired I am already. I thought it was supposed to happen gradually not after 3 treatments. Anyone else have this happen to them?

dlb823

janicez, perhaps it's not simply the RT, but the accumulation of stress and fatigue from dx, surgery, chemo, and now, finally, rads?    

Whatever it is, keeping as active as possible throughout rads should help.  The women I know who sailed through it best all made a point of walking every day they had rads.   Eating well should also help, again because your body's been through so much.   (((Hugs))), and hang in there!   You're in the home stretch now!     Deanna

Yawls

Hi j, I finished 12 yesterday and was zausted! I have been following a very set schedule. Work 7:30. Rads at 4 nap at 4:30 dinner at 6:30 walk (most evenings) bed at 9:30. By sticking to this I am able to cheerfully and productively get through the day. I have shortened my workday by about 2 hours a day. Tired is the only side effect so far. My skin is pink. But does not hurt. Not much appetite, a little sour stomach a lot of chic noodle soup. Hang in there!

proudtospin

my RO had told me that most folks get hit with the tireds about midway, yeap that was me

I worked doing the entire deal but would crash at end of day.  Did small amount of the gym but soon as over, I collapsed for a week of zzzzs

it takes it out of you and yes, I do believe it is partly all the stuff that led up to the rads

stride

janicez, I am in the exact same boat. Started rads Wednesday morning. Had to delay until 4 p.m. on Thursday due to broken machine, then went again yesterday morning. I was a zombie all day yesterday, making all kinds of mistakes at work.Finally started feeling better this afternoon after a nap. I do think it was partly because I did not get good sleep on Wednesday and Thursday nights, but definitely the radiation was part of it. The rad tech said "This will do that to you."

janicez

Thanks everyone. I have been trying to eat well and started walking on my treadmill about a month ago. So I am going to try to keep it up. I work full time so have been leaving at 3:30 for radiation and then home. Maybe once I get home I need to take some time to rest. Yes it's been a long difficult year so maybe It's just catching up to me. At least I will get a break after radiation before I have my reconstruction.

Loneskier

I started feeling fatigue after the first week.  It was a weird tired.  I learned to live with it because I had year end at work.  I usually rested on the weekends so by Monday I was better.  This week I start the last of 7 boosts.  I am going from 2 treatments to 3 a day.  My underarm is really sore and I am very red.  I hoping to work all week but I am going to wait and see how it goes.  I can't wait for the 29th.

phxsunshine

janicez~ I'd go first thing in the morning - it was August in Phoenix, you want to get things done before the sun gets too high.  I'd drive home (20 mins) get a lot of things done for 3 hours and then I'd crash for 2-3 hours.  Out like a light.  That you are working full time, well, my hat is off to you girl!!  

janicez

What are boosts? No one has ever mentioned them to me. Does everyone get them?

stride

I talked to my RO today. She said it is not unusual for people to have fatigue at the beginning of rads. Then it goes away for a couple of weeks and comes back again. I am guessing you and I are both getting a large area radiated, so maybe that factors in. Are you getting your clavicle radiated, coming in from your back? And both sides of your sternum? Boosts are just more radiation targeted to the specific area, like the mastectomy scar. Basically it just means a few extra days of treatment.

stride

Also my RO said normal cells mostly repair while you sleep overnight, which makes me think it would be better to have radiation late in the day.

momof3boys

I was more exhausted during radiation than chemo. My RO told me that I needed more calories, your body is working hard to recover. He said to eat more proteins and healthy snacks, like apples with cheese, crackers and peanut butter, etc. I needed to eat more to maintain my weight. Also, drinking a lot of water helped too. Easier to drink a lot if I put lemon in it.

bedo

I think everyone is right about the stress.  I became more and more tired and my onc put me on disability.  RI is one of a handful of states that has 6 month temp disability for everyone.  At the end I was sleeping 12-14 hours a day or more and it took 2-3 months to get my energy back.  Don't let that scare you, I think it was unusual

stride

Momof3boys, thanks for that info. I have lost a couple of pounds already and I was just starting to put some on. I get a bit worried because I dropped from a size12 to a size 8 before my diagnosis, so in hindsight I know that should have been a warning sign. I lost a little more during chemo, but I had chemo-resistant cancer growing still. But now this can only be treatment-related weight loss, so it's nice to know others have had the same experience.

momof3boys

You're welcome, Stride. When I was going thru treatment, I'd pour over these posts just trying to see if anyone else was experiencing the same thing :-) We all are, pretty much!

cookiegal

It sucks doesn't it.

However it is one SE that will go away. It comes on fast but goes away gradually in my experience.

Moderators

janicez, 

As you learn more about members experiences, you might also want to check out the section on Fatigue on the main breastcancer.org site.  

We hope this helps!

janicez

@ stride I am not sure exactly how to describe it but I am getting radiation to what used to be my left breast. The machine is first low by my left side. I can't even see it. Then it moves above me and angles the other side of that breast. I also have tissue Expanders that r filled. They feel like two bricks strapped to my chest. I heard that radiation only makes it worse.

janicez

Momof3boys thanks for the eating tips. I started tamoxifen in november and have been worried about gaining a lot of weight. Apples and preanut butter and cheese and crackers sound like good choices.

stride

Janicez, I am checking back in to see how you are doing. Did the fatigue ease up?