I am tired all the time.

kandyhunt

Is this part of just having cancer? I thought for months something was wrong. Cancer was not what I thought. But here I am.

peculiargirl

Kandyhunt, when I was first diagnosed, I couldn't sleep very well because I was stressing out about everything. Could that be part of it? Are you in treatment? It could be some of the meds you're taking. My oncologist suggested taking a benadryl at bedtime - it really helps me sleep.

Kathy

kandyhunt

I sleep. I am the kind of person that does not lose sleep over things I can't control. But I started getting tired all the time about a year ago. I thought it was stress from my job. But now I think it has more to do with this cancer thing. But maybe it is stress. My mantra is: "if you can fix it, fix it. if you think you need to worry find out what you can do. if you have done all that you can, than worrying is not going to make it better. So don't worry" My first husband hated that about me.

I keep falling asleep at work. No one cares. But it is crazy. My personal assistant even comes in and closes my door so that I stay asleep longer. I had a project manager come in and work in my office and the next thing I knew I was waking up. She had left. I told her I was sorry. She laughed and said that she figured my body needed the rest.

I haven't started treatment, yet. I am still getting all the tests and lining up appointments. My 2nd opinion is waiting on getting the test results. But I did find out that the tumor size is a lot bigger than anyone thought. I just got my MRI results this morning. It's the size of a passport picture. Which when i found out I laughed out loud. I have twisted sense of humor. I love to travel so of course its passport picture size.

Moderators

Hi Kandy,

Fatigue is a very common side effect of breast cancer, and the diagnosis process -- and treatment too. We're sure you'll find many others here who can relate, but in the meantime, you may wish to check out the main Breastcancer.org site's section on Managing Fatigue for some good advice on how to help navigate this unfortunate side effect.

We hope this helps!

--The Mods

peculiargirl

It seems like it takes FOREVER to get all the tests and get a treatment plan in place, doesn't it? The project manager was right - sound like your body DOES need the rest! I'm glad you have a job where you can grab a nap when you need one.

Sounds like a big tumor - glad you can laugh about it! A good sense of humor and a positive attitude goes a long way.

kandyhunt

How do you know that you have choosen the right treatment?

ShetlandPony

Regarding tiredness: Has your 25 OH-D been checked? For some reason there is an association between low vitamin D and breast cancer. Also get your thyroid and hemoglobin (iron) checked. (These are blood tests.)

DATNY

Fatigue is a symptom of cancer. I had it for long time prior to diagnosis, but some never experience it. I believe it only occurs when the immune system recognizes that something is not normal and perhaps starts to take some action, albeit not a successful one.

Edited to also say that I concur about thyroid and vitamin d being tested.

Denise-G

I had severe fatigue the year before diagnosis. Figured I was just getting older. I hear this from many cancer patients about their fatigue prior to diagnosis.

My best wishes as the plan gets in place for you.

ClareCo

when I was falling asleep at work it turned out to be a thyroid problem. Thyroid test is an easy blood test- you don’t have to fast. Maybe ask your gp to test you. Sending you good energy

rachelcarter35

Kandyhunt you ask how do you know you've chosen the right treatment. That I'm afraid is the 6 million dollar question. It's what keeps most of us awake at night. I haven't found a way to find peace on this one. You will never be sure but second opinions, research, talking it out with wise people you trust hopefully gets you as close as you can get.

DATNY

One way to get some peace of mind is to always go for second opinions (pathology included) before taking the next steps. Mistakes, overlooks happen often.

buttonsmachine

I also felt more tired for roughly a year before diagnosis, but it was subtle. I thought I was just too stressed (which I was), but then I also started to feel fatigued walking up a hill I had been walking up my whole life! Something was just off. Two months later, I felt the lump.

Egads007

I remember walking through a mall wondering why I was so tired...I’d only woke up after a full nights sleep two hours before.....it just didn’t feel right. Like the others it started about a year before diagnosis.

I’m sorry about your diagnosis, hang tough, you’ll get through

star2017

I was very fatigued in the months before I was diagnosed. It was masked by the fact that I was pregnant, but I really struggled inthat pregnancy more than in others, and I do think it had at least something to do with the cancer.

kandyhunt

I have low Vitamin D. But no one ever told me that the two were connected until I started researching. Crazy. I had all the thyroid tests done the same time as they found the cancer. No thyroid issue which was a surprise as it runs in the family. But surprise cancer doesn't but here I am.

kandyhunt

I had all the thyroid tests done the same time as they found the cancer. No thyroid issue which was a surprise as it runs in the family. But surprize cancer doesn't but here I am.

Runnermum

Kandy...I had noticed an increase in fatigue in the months before I found my lump and was diagnosed. I also dealt with reoccurring sinus junk during the 4 months before I found my lump. I have to believe the reason I was more tired than usual and the fact I couldn't shake my sinus cold was that my usually healthy immune system was compromised from the cancer. Normally I was never sick!