Is this normal?

Linda_S

I was diagnosed in November with DCIS with micro invasion and have had the tumor removed.  I have just started my radiation treatment (today is the end of the first week) and I'm concerned with the way I am feeling.  After the treatment, I feel ok, then as the day wears on I feel tired.  My concern is the next morning.  I wake up feeling as if I've been beat to hell overnight.  I'm exhausted, ache all over and can barely get out of bed.  I've read to expect possible fatigue from radiation therapy, but this feels extreme.  Has anyone else had side effects like this after only one week?

Annette47

I'm sure there's a lot of variation in experiences, but I have just finished my second week and while I do feel a little more tired than usual late in the day, mornings have been fine.   Maybe ask your RO about it?  Could be from the stress of it all, rather than the radiation itself.

ballet12

Hi Linda, Today was my last day of radiation.  I had ups and downs. At the end of the first week (like you), I had several bad days.  I kind of pushed myself and went to Yoga on day five, after I had gone to dance classes on day three and day four, in addition to working.  By day five, I felt dizzy during the class, and had the same feeling again on Monday, including chills and dizziness (did not exercise).  I felt better again until the last week.  I had to skimp a little on sleep (was awoken one night by a late night phone call and couldn't go back to sleep and slept poorly the next night).  Yesterday, I felt like a zombie, and today was only somewhat better.  I had been told (by the rad onc fellow) that only 10 percent of people feel fatigue, so I kind of felt like a bit of a wimp, but I realize that not everyone feels intense fatigue every day, all of the time, and that other symptoms (like the dizziness) can be apparent.  I was told that exercise helps, so I tried to do a fair amount of it, but I was also doing a lot of (required) walking from the subway to the hospital and back every morning, so the exercise classes on top of that might have been too much.  My only suggestion is, just let it all happen and don't analyze it.  Each of us is individual, and responds individually.  Best of luck.  You'll be done before you know it.

redsox

I think the only "normal" is that everyone has some amount of fatigue.  How much and the pattern of it seem to vary.  I initially intended to ask for an early morning ttime slot to get it out of the way and get on with work and my day.  Reading posts here caused me to change my request to a time slot after 5 PM.  I worked through the whole treatment but took a few days off in the last few weeks.  I drove home after treatment, had dinner (which my husband made -- yeah!) and did not try to do much in the evening.  My energy levels were definitely lower than normal, but I was able to get the most important stuff done. 

My advice is to talk to you rad onc -- and also think about the patterns for you and what changes might make your life easier.  Mostly, be nice to yourself. 

Linda_S

Thanks for the responses.  This has sent me for a loop I must admit.  (although I'm sure no one is ever prepared to hear a cancer diagnosis)  My appointments are in the early afternoon, which works for me.  I have animals to feed in the morning, and it's tough enough to get going now with the pain and fatigue.  I was just wondering if anyone had experienced this all over achiness and bone numbing weariness.  I'm pretty sure it's the radiation and not stress because I missed one day of treatment due to a flat tire, and the next morning when I woke, I felt ok.  Then had the treatment that day and the next morning was in pain and exhausted again.  Guess I'll just have to suck it up for the next five weeks, and hope the time passes quickly.