fatigue from radiation

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

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

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!!  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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