Question about Fatigue

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited September 2016 in Stage III Breast Cancer
Question about Fatigue
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  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited September 2016

    I'm not sure where to put this, so I'm starting here :)

    I'm SO tired!! I'm not sure what is going on, but it seems to be getting worse. How long does fatigue last after tx and surgery and all the other crap? I'm going to discuss this with my doctors next month, but I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this long term? I've started walking, but that makes it worse in a way. My bones and joints ache afterward. To be honest, it concerns me a little because I know I felt this way before my original dx back in 2013. That was the only symptom that I had, but didn't realize at the time it was happening.

    I finished chemo and rads 2 years ago....is this normal?

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  • MmeJ
    MmeJ Member Posts: 167
    edited September 2016

    Normal? Probably not. Unheard of? No. A not-small percentage of people treated (with chemo and rads) for breast cancer experience persistent fatigue for years.

    I'm starting Year 6 of this sh*t. I blame untreated complications from radiation and untreated acute pain that became chronic for my situation.

    Docs won't own it.

    Be prepared for a battery of tests which will probably tally up to "inconclusive." Simple stuff, like thyroid, I'd guess you've already had checked.

    http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/cncrfatigue.ht...

    http://www.dana-farber.org/For-Adult-Cancer-Survivors/Caring-For-Yourself-After-Cancer/Your-Body-After-Treatment.aspx

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  • KayaRose
    KayaRose Member Posts: 183
    edited September 2016

    @tangandchris, I still have fatigue, too. I had chemo first, then surgery, then radiation. I finished treatment in May, 2015. My MO questions me about fatigue each time I see her. I tell her I'm still having it but she doesn't seem too concerned about it. Tells me to try to get more active, exercise, etc. I hear you about being tired before dx. That was really my only symptom, too. In fact, I remember wondering if the fatigue might be caused by type 2 diabetes or something like that. Never gave breast cancer a thought!

    I will say it has gotten better but I still have days when I feel so beat out that I don't feel like doing anything but rest - even carrying on a conversation is an effort. Not sleepy tired, just fatigued. I can be feeling ok and then, boom, it just descends on me. It usually takes me several hours to get over it. Other days, I feel pretty darn good. I am walking every day and have done some swimming but still can't do my old aerobic video. I get about 10 minutes into it and poop out. I'm 67, so I'm keeping my goals pretty simple - like I'd like to be able to finish a 30 minute work out.

    Are you on an AI? I'm taking Arimidex and am wondering if that has anything to do with being tired. I've had some general joint pain and miscellaneous aches but otherwise seem to be doing ok on it.

    Anyway, wishing you the best and hoping for better days.

    Kaya

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  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited September 2016

    Thx for the feedback ladies!

    I know my thyroid has been checked and it was normal. I am on Femara so that could be it as well. I do have daily chronic pain from arthritis and the AI makes it worse, so that could all be adding to these issues.

    It is hard, idk just get tired of being tired.

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