How long does the fatigue last after chemo?

Khagen I had my last chemo on January the 12th (4 rounds of TC) and my hair is about half an inch long. It has come back so grey. Before BC I only had the tiniest bit of grey at my temples. At least it's coming back I suppose.

My specialist told me it usually takes 12 months or more to regain pre chemo energy levels. He did say that a few never do.

Congrats on being done with that part of your journey. Donna.

The week after last of 12 weekly adjuvant Taxol I started feeling less EXHAUSTED as each week passed. I started rads that week after last Taxol, so as energy level increased continually throughout rads though for some rads can cause fatigue (according to what I've 'heard'/read). I had done 4 DD A/C neoadjuvant and had had no issues with fatigue at all.

My suggestions for "getting back to normal activities" if you are having a problem is to sit down and make a chart of where you feel you are today and where you want to get to (back to your 'normal'). Basically a 'start point' and the goal. Set realistic goals but have a plan that increases what you want to do gradually towards the goal. Gradual increases that are quite doable but never overdoing which will be a major setback. Small positive 'steps' will get you a lot further quicker than trying to do too much too quick which will cause setbacks. Only you can know how hard you can push yourself and what was your 'normal' pre-TX. For some we can push harder/for some not as hard - the end is more important than how 'fast' (or what anyone else did) is what matters. Remember too that what is 'normal' for one is not 'normal' for another. Having short term and long term goals written down (and documented the progress) no matter how small, wrritten down is a very positive even if the plan has to be 'tweeked' - it still shows the progress ACCOMPLISHED. For each of us, our 'normals' were very different than most others - do not self 'judge' yourself against what anyone else's 'normal' was. For some, training for and running a marathon is 'normal' - definitely not 'normal' for me. We are each so unique - getting back in shape/normal can take time and work - gradually so that progress may be slow but does progress.

Hair - I finished Chemo in late Jan - it was May before I had about 1/4" of hair back. Mine came back exactly as it had been pre- TX - unfortunately. I had been told hair comes back greyer than it had been so I was hoping mine would come back with some very - it didn't. I am 'cursed' by genetics to not have grey hair. Daddy's side of the family did not get very (even into their 90's), Mom's side all got grey young (she had started getting grey in high school) - most went on to gorgeous white hair in 40's -50's. Me - I was 63 when DXd/did Chemo and hair was still naturally as dark as it had been all my life - VERY dark brown (almost black but not quite when next to someone that actually has black). It came back as dark as ever with still no grey. Now at 69, it is still naturally as dark as ever with no grey. It gets tiresome/annoying when strangers will comment that I'd look younger if I didn't dye my hair 'black'/so dark - I DO NOT DYE MY HAIR - IT'S HOW IT GROWS!

Sorry for rambling so but hope 'you' can get 'something' (no matter how small) from it.