How Fatigued were you during rads treatment?

kec1972

Wondering how bad the fatigue was when you were going through rads? Im trying to determine if I should take time off my part time job, thanks all! Kare

PurpleCat

I didn't miss any days of work, although I left early each day to get to treatment. The fatigue hit me in waves. I would suddenly need a nap, although if it happened at work I would just power through. It was mostly that I couldn't stay up past about 9:30 or 10, after being a lifelong night owl. My impression is that people who were in generally good health before diagnosis, didn't have chemo, and had smaller surgical procedures probably experience less fatigue during radiation, but I definitely experienced it. Depending how physically taxing your job is, you can probably keep your normal schedule, but definitely alert your manager that you might not be able to keep it up for the duration.

illimae

I didn’t miss work either but I did schedule rads in late afternoon, so I could go straight home if I was tired. Never really got tired though, still shopped, cooked, etc after treatment. I did miss 3 days about a week after treatment ended when my skin was too painful to wear a bra and proper work clothes, so that’s a consideration. Good luck.

Ingerp

I only remember two days of really feeling fatigued the first time I went through it (and fortunately those fell on a weekend). The second time I don't remember fatigue at all, but I agree I slept better.

Salamandra

I think it's super individual. I was pretty healthy and active before and during (I bicycled about 18 miles round trip to radiation most days). But I still got hit with the fatigue hard. Most days, I could do the radiation plus one other thing, I got very tired around 3 or 4pm, and focused concentration was hard. I think the RO was surprised by how much I felt impacted by fatigue. I feel really lucky I was able to be off work.

hapa

I think your level of fatigue will depend on how much treatment you've already had going into rads and how much radiation you're getting and to where. I had already had chemo and BMX + recon when I started comprehensive (breast/chest wall + lymph nodes) radiation and it knocked me on my butt around the 3-4 week mark. I'd come home from rads and just want to sleep. I had more energy on chemo than I did on rads. Good luck!

gb2115

I was fatigued, but generally not until Fridays. It was significant on Fridays though. I work full-time, but my job was kind to let me kind of come and go as I needed during radiation. I probably went home early those days, I can't remember.

Murf

For me personally, Rads took everything out of me! For me it was worse then chemo and fatigue got even worse after. 

CaliKelly

I had no fatigue at all during rads, and it came after neo adjuvant chemo, them mastectomy and t.e. placement. I went to the gym right after every session. All I got was a sunburn , and scabby spot on clavicle. Skin was very tender, no bra strap! But no fatigue. Btw, my favorite skin saver was Miaderm, very helpful

Daisygirl66

I scheduled my radiation treatments at 720 am so I could get to work as early as possible. I had a sudden impulse to take a nap on most days 3 to 4 hours after my treatment. I am lucky enough to work from home on most days so I was abe to nap at lunch time. I would also suggest speaking with your Superior at work to explain the possibility of sudden onset fatigue which requires a quick nap. That usually did it for me. My rad techs suggested 100% pure, clear aloe for the affected breast immediately after treatment and at night. I had very minimal skin browning. Best wishes to all.

GreenHarbor

I’m lucky to work part time 4 days per week in an office. I did my treatments in the morning before work. I was OK while I was at work keeping busy, but felt fatigue more in the afternoons. It was worst the last week of treatments and for two weeks after. My skin did turn tan and was a little tender, but didn’t blister at all. My doctor told me to use calendula cream. You’ll find on these threads that each doctor has his/her favorite cream to use! I did find the treatments hard emotionally. For 4 weeks my morning routine was different (I’m a person who likes her routines!) I felt that each treatment was one more reminder that I was a person with cancer. If you can do regular exercise during the treatments, it will help with the fatigue - even just a little walking. Good luck!

Mymomsgirl

I had some fatigue kick in around treatment 9 (granted this was this past week) but I found if I had something to do, like work, I could find some energy to power through. In addition to the radiation I also have almost 3 hours rounds trip for my treatment. I decided to go with later in the day to hopefully avoid winter weather issues. I also work from home and my boss has been a great support and I have a great team that I manage and they have been wonderful at helping with some extra duties. Some say that extra protein helps, I added Premium Protein drink to my morning routine and I think it has helped. It is hard to get extra protein if you don't have much of an appitite.

As far as skin care I was using Aquaphor and during a follow up with with my PS this week she suggested that I add Cerave Moisturizing Cream and then put the Aquaphor over top. She said the cream will absorb more and the Aquaphor will act like a sealer.

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Dear Daisygirl66,

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ruthbru

Everyone is different. I did chemo first so actually felt my energy returning during radiation. If you can make yourself get some light exercise during treatment (walking etc.), it will help lessen any fatigue.

AliceBastable

Yes to walking, it really helps. I had early morning rads, but I'm a night owl, so I'd sleep about four hours, go to rads, make a quick small breakfast, putz around for a bit, then take a nap for 2 or 3 hours. I'm retired, so I could do it. I did better as time went on because I was recovering from another, bigger surgery when rads started and I had a real problem with the stretched out position the first few weeks. And then at the end of the 33 treatments, I felt tired again for a few weeks, possibly because I hadn't had sufficient recovery time earlier and it all caught up with me.

FaceForward

I'm not quite finished yet but I only have 2 more to go. My fatigue started gradually building about a third of the way thru. I always take a protein bar and my water bottle to my appointments. Even if I don't feel like it, I eat that on my way home and it helps. By the time I was halfway thru treatment, I felt the fatigue pretty badly. One day I fell asleep on the couch at 5:30 pm and didn't wake up until 11 hours later. My energy is good before noon and drops off rapidly after. Taking short breaks throughout the day did not help me. It doesn't matter how many breaks I take early in the day, the afternoons still get to me and by the time I'm done with dinner, I'm done for the day. I have noticed this past week that my skin is much worse but I think the fatigue has let up slightly. Most evenings now I can make it all the way to 8:00 before I start nodding off. It's not so much the sleepiness that's the problem for me, it's the complete exhaustion/ deep fatigue that comes on suddenly and feels so debilitating at times. I try to walk as much as I can but some days, it's just not happening. At 10:00 am I can feel great and have ambitious plans for the day. Then at 3:00 pm, I can barely climb the stairs. Fortunately for me, I'm in real estate so I have some leeway with making my own schedule and juggling my appointments. Everyone is different so it's probably impossible to plan for how you will be affected. Maybe best to try and give employers a heads-up of what may happen and then play it by ear. Another issue for me with working is that I cannot wear a bra at all and I have no work clothes that don't hurt. There's not many flannel or fleece things I can get away with wearing for work. Check out all the tips on this site and try whatever you're comfortable with. You'll find your own rhythm and what works best for you. Remember, there will probably be some days when nothing works at all and that's ok. That's when you'll know it's time to pamper yourself a little more.

LJDH0709

I had pretty bad fatigue after the third week but .I was getting chest wall radiation to all the lymph nodes and and boosts to the scar area of the recurrence, and it was on the left side.  They did not use any type of breath control or positioning change so

Not every one experiences extreme fatigue, it seems to be an individual thing nd probably where the radiation is being directed and the dose that makes a difference too.

 I spoke with a nurse who had 30 treatments and worked full time every day and said she only felt slightly fatigued.  For me after the week 4 I was mostly in bed just trying to rest to get to the treatments.  I did 28 out of 30.  

octogirl

I just wanted to echo others who suggest continuing to exercise (which really helped me), and as someone mentioned, I always tried to schedule it late afternoon, which meant I could go home and collapse on the couch afterwards.

In my case I had a 40 minute commute each way to the radiation clinic, as I lived in a small town at the time, and I am sure that driving back and forth didn't help my fatigue! (I did convince hubby I needed a new car if I was going to make that drive every week day :-)) I continued to work full time. I wouldn't cut back on work unless you feel the need after starting rads: everyone is different.

Carol2018

I took a medical LOA because I had the earned time at work. I had a lumpectomy and no chemo. I exercised at a class almost every morning and went to rads around noon. I was not super tired but some afternoons I would doze off for 15 mins or a half hour. The fatigue was not nearly as bad as I expected. The exercise helped a lot and no stress from work too. Good luck