Fatigue--is this normal towards the end of chemo treatment?

Purdue98
Purdue98 Member Posts: 33
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer
Fatigue--is this normal towards the end of chemo treatment?
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  • Purdue98
    Purdue98 Member Posts: 33
    edited March 2010

    Hello ladies-

    I have completed 4 AC tx and 3 Taxol tx. I am feeling very exhausted by the end of my work day (working 6 hr days except day of and day after chemo). I feel like I've reached a new level of feeling tired, almost like there are no "bounce back" days in between sessions.  Has anyone else experienced this? Any tips for finishing up the chemo marathon?  I really need/want to hang in there at work for financial reasons so any encouragement is MUCH appreciated!!! Radiation not so exhausting?

    Thank you.

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited March 2010

    Very normal!  How's your bloodwork?  I was anemic toward the end and boy, did I notice fatigue with that.  I worked through treatment, also.  Try to get as much sleep as you possibly can.  Hang in there...you are almost to the end!  Radiation was not as exhausting for me.  Other than having to drive there everyday during road construction. :)

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited March 2010

    Oh my goodness...yes, it is totally normal. i was exhausted after finishing 6 TAC infusions and then moved into rads.  your body is totally being "treated' to kill cancer cells, please give yoursefl some time to heal.,..and recover.  something i have noticed on the boards..people want to be back to normal WAY too fast after surgery...chemo ...rads.  remember; the treatment is to kill cancer...and other cells are also damaged.  ie...baldness.  please take the time to remember you are in a battle...and it takes awhile...like a year or more.

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited March 2010

    Hi Purdue,

    I work from home and am finding Taxol a lot easier than AC was.  One thing I find makes a difference, apart from what Bugs said, is eating protein for energy so lots of eggs and cheese.  Otherwise, I am apt to crash.

    Assuming you have one Taxol to go?

    I have 3 more ....got six of each.....and am relatively OK at this point.  I do crash with each infusion though Days 3-5.

    I have exercised throughout chemo and find this helps big time.  I was OK enough last Sunday to do a 35k bicycle event....Chilly HIlly.

    Having said this, can't wait to be done. - Claire

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  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited March 2010

    I had the same treatment plan and just finished up my last Taxol today!  The AC knocked me down and the during the first half of Taxol I had days where I went to bed by 6:30 p.m.  Now I almost have a good energy level.

    I was borderline anemic and today they asked me if I was eating more meat because my counts are rising.  I do think that is an important area to look at.

    I think there is a good chance you'll start to feel better soon as you move farther away from AC and find some good iron sources.  I know everyone is different, but from what I've heard radiation is much easier.

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited March 2010

    After chemo, I was so THRILLED to be going to the radiation side of the clinic, instead of the infusion side, that I burst into tears of happiness. And compared to chemo, I found radiation to be a piece of cake. Good Luck! Ruth

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited March 2010

    All I can do is echo the others - it is normal, and it will get better.Try and get as much rest as you possibly can, I would eat dinner early, then go to bed when my husband came home. You are so close to being done! Just keep going, you are doing great. I started to feel much better a couple of weeks after my last Chemo, then by the time I started Rads I was feeling so, so much better. For me, Rads was a piece of cake.

    Clarice - congratulations to you!! 

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  • Annie62
    Annie62 Member Posts: 1,081
    edited March 2010

    As my onc said - the residual fatigue from chemo treatments is cumulative. You revoer a little bit less of your energy each time. Within two weeks I started feeling better but it took a good 6 months after rads to feel like my old self. Rads was easy for my compared to chemo but at the end of that I was dragging a little bit too.

    Hang in there and finish your treatments. Let the housework slide and get as much rest as you can. My time with my family was limited to tv watching at the end since I didn't have energy for anything else besides working. The kids were just happy to be with me.

     Annie

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited March 2010

    Yes, it is very normal.  My onc warned me that the fatigue was cumulative and that by the end of treatment I would have low energy.  And..........he was right. I didn't work during chemo and there were days I was just exhausted by the end of the day.  I'm back at work full time and at the end of radiation right now and find that I at the end of the day I am tired, but not near as bad as the chemo and I just decided to listen to my body - if it wants to rest, I rest.  If I have energy I use every last drop of it - then rest. Your in the home stretch................listen to your body and know that you will have energy again.

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