I had lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy 3 weeks ago. I was doing well recovery wise but after hearing 4 days ago that they got good margins and nodes were clear I’ve totally crashed. I will have radiotherapy in a few weeks. I am sleeping (on and off) for 10 or 11 hours at night with periods of waking. I’m tired all day. But I feel like a fraud - as I am ‘well’.
21 Likes
Yes you are ‘well’ but you have been through an incredibly stressful time and you are recovering from surgery. 3 weeks isn’t long at all. Plus all the worry from diagnosis to now, the relief that they got clear margins and the unknown of radiotherapy will naturally be taking its toll. Your body knows what it needs so give yourself grace and rest without guilt. You are not in anyway a fraud. Far from it. 
wishing you continued good health and recovery.
19 Likes
Hi Shaz
As Twinks77 has said, 3 weeks is nothing on the scale of things, and I hate to say it, but Radiotherapy can also drain you, so be prepared and take time for yourself.
Fatigue is different to being tired, and the definition goes something like “no matter how much sleep you get” you still feel exhausted and depleted of energy.
I’m 10 months post radiotherapy, and the afternoons (not every day but often) still take it out of me. As well as your body healing, Radiotherapy has long term effects, plus if you are taking any other medication they all contribute. Some have very little or no fatigue, and some have more and longer periods of it. You know your body, pace yourself, and don’t feel as though you need to do everything in one day.
I was surprised by the effects, they are real and you are not a fraud 
11 Likes
Thank you - really kind of you to reply. I’m just struggling with it all these past few days and feeling like I shouldn’t be x
6 Likes
Thanks for taking time to reply. I don’t know anyone who’s gone through this so it’s really helpful to hear others’ experiences x
5 Likes
Hi shaz6, 3 weeks is no time to recover what you have been through. The diagnosis and surgery takes a lot out you. You will be relieved that you dont need more surgery.
I am 2.5 years after lumpectomy and radiotherapy. Also currently on tamoxifen. Even now I still get extremely fatigued. In fact, I slept really well last night for about 8 hours and have just woken up after 2 hours nap.
I spoke to my nurse at last follow up in may. She says it can take a long, long time to get over the fatigue. I am also menopausal which probably doesn’t help.
Sorry for maybe being negative. You are by no way a fraud after a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Look after yourself x
12 Likes
Hi @shaz6
You aren’t a fraud . You’ve been an unwilling passenger on an emotional rollercoaster for months , you’ve had your life turned upside down and probably had to start thinking about yourself in a different way . Maybe the relief knowing that they got it all has allowed you to let go of whatever it was that was keeping you going . It’s well known that many people get themselves through a crisis and collapse afterwards - and it seems to hit people at different times emotionally .
The day I got my results I was jubilant but the next day my lovely colleague passed away from metastatic prostate cancer - I can’t even describe my state of mind beyond a massive attack of survivors guilt .
From a purely physical point of view it can take longer than you expect to recover from surgery . I was determined to get back to normal , I’m one of those people who is always on the last minute and after the first week or so when I didn’t feel great and rested , I started trying to rush about again as I normally would . I clearly was not ready for that as I managed to fall over twice resulting in me landing on my left shoulder ( twisted that way to avoid landing flat on my boobs ) and damaged my rotator cuff which has never been right since so I wish I had listened to my body and rested a bit more. Occasionally I wonder if it was a good thing that I had that fall because it stopped me trying to go back to work between surgery and radiotherapy ( emotionally I wouldn’t have been ready nevermind physically ) and worrying about whether I was going to be able to get my hands over my head for radiotherapy meant I was thinking less about the treatment itself.
If you have come off HRT /started hormone therapy or had to stop taking any supplements that may be affecting you as well . This journey affects you in so many ways and really takes it out of you.
After radiotherapy I did suffer from proper fatigue for a while which was exactly as @sal1 described and had no choice but to rest . I found it helpful to rest in the afternoon and listen to Headspace - usually dozed off part way through . You could give your BCN a ring and let them know how you’re feeling or speak to your GP - I’m a Nurse and I have heard of people who have had surgery for many reasons still feeling tired or unwell weeks after .
I’ve had fatigue 3 times in my life now - including earlier this year due to a virus. In all these cases I have been helped by cranio- sacral osteopathy . Something that may work the same way and be cheaper and more convenient is Somatic Yoga ( check out YouTube ) which helps to release stored tension and helps to rebalance the body which improves energy levels . The first time I had fatigue it started with labyrinthitis which everyone expected me to recover from after 4 weeks - I just got worse . As well as doing exercises and having cranio- sacral osteopathy I also had counselling and there was a definite improvement of my physical symptoms including fatigue after starting that.
You are doing the right thing by resting . Try to eat well and do a little bit of walking / gentle stretching - take care xx
5 Likes
You are not a fraud. You have had the wonderful news that surgery was all good, you brain has calmed from this news and told the rest of your body to finally relax. Let the healing sleep do its job before your radiotherapy treatment.
Gentle hugs xx
9 Likes
Thank you all. I stopped HRT back in July when I had a biopsy for the lump so that is another factor.
I guess I’m underplaying the impact of all of it. But it is huge. I’ll keep listening to my body and to all the wisdom of the women in this forum.
10 Likes
I felt exactly the same way. (My cancer is very similar to yours.) I finished radiation a few days ago and fatigue seems to be improving some. I didn’t think radiation would cause this but I guess it does. I hope things go well for you.
3 Likes
Hi @shaz6
I really felt I needed to respond when you said you felt like a fraud — you’re absolutely not.
As others have said, you’ve been through an enormous trauma. Being told you have cancer turns your whole world upside down. Then come the worries, the endless waiting, the appointments, the biopsies, the MRI, the results, the surgery, and the follow-ups… it’s completely understandable that you’re feeling as you do.
And on top of that, you’ve stopped HRT and are still physically recovering from major surgery — which was only three weeks ago.
You are still very much in recovery. Please be gentle with yourself. Rest when you need to, sleep when you need to, and listen to your body. It’s an amazing thing — it knows what it needs.
Take care and continue to recover
Love Lynn x
8 Likes
Hi - your emotions are TOTALLY normal. I went through exactly the same as you earlier this year. When I was told I had clear margins and no spread to the lymph nodes, rather feeling joyful I was very emotional, sad and cried for a good few days after. I knew I was extremely fortunate and was angry with myself for feeling that way. However, I think our bodies (mentally & physically) are prepared for the worst and when you get good news the release of that stress has to come out somehow. The feeling will pass.
Good luck with the radiotherapy - again we fear the worse and you may find that’s not so bad either!
Take care x
4 Likes
Hang in there… it takes time but you will get there. Be kind to yourself (i know you might hear it a lot but true non the less) because you have been through a lot, physically and mentally… healing doesn’t happen overnight but it happens… hang in there. You are not a fraud just human. It has taken me a long while not to wince and rather accept it each time someone says “you look well”. Truth no one knows better than you what you have gone through and the resilience needed so if you can be kind to a stranger why not be kind to yourself? It does get better no matter how long it might take. All the best 
4 Likes
The Post op Physio told me to remember that the body has been ploughing all its energy into healing from the internal effects of the surgery, so it is draining. Plus the stress and worry of getting to this point zaps you.
I took off 2 weeks for my wle, but have a physical job. I could quite easily have had 3-4 weeks off as felt v tired.
Go easy on yourself.
3 Likes
Hi, I had surgery just as you have had in June 2025. I then had a month to get over the surgery then had 15 sessions of radiotherapy…no chemo as 3 lymph nodes were clear. I have now been on Tamoxifen for a month with no side effects. It is now Sept 2025 and I am only now starting to think that I am back to normal.
Try to get plenty of rest and be kind to yourself. Mentally I was shattered being diagnosed with BC and it takes months to get over. I try and focus on being positive as I worry about it reaccuring. Take care and all the very best.
4 Likes
Thank you ! So good of you all to reply . It’s really helping x
1 Like
Can I ask you, do you know how they decide if it’s 5 or 15 sessions of radiotherapy ?
1 Like
Hi, I had very similar to you and the same op. You don’t say your age. I was 73 last year when it happened to me, and I always take longer than many people to recover, and 3 weeks really isn’t anything. I took a lot longer. You’re not a fraud at all, everyone is different. Be kind to yourself and follow what your body is telling you xx
4 Likes
Hi, from what my breast surgeon said to me there seems to be a minimum of 3 weeks if they have been able to get clear area around the tumour and there is no cancer in the lymph nodes.
My next check will be May2026 and will see the surgeon again then. I found radiation for 15 sessions not to bad but it does take sometime to get over. I just turned 74yrs on the 5th Oct. it does take quite a few months to start feeling a lot better and although I am now I still get some breast pain. It has not been a great year but I count myself very lucky compared to other ladies. Take care Ali
2 Likes
Thanks so much shaz6 for posting this. I have recently been through similar. Lumpectomy, clear lymph nodes, clear margins. I was very tired after the op for a good couple of weeks but I think my initial elation at the results carried me through. I’ve since crashed completely - physically but moreso emotionally. I am not sure if it is as a result of me starting tamoxifen, or because of worry about starting radiotherapy (even though mine is only 5 days, starting tomorrow). I am 67 and recently retired so at least I can rest but I just feel so guilty all the time about “being a wimp” when my diagnosis was so much better than others’ and the treatment so simple compared to others’. Knowing that other people have similar feelings is so helpful, itgives me more confidence that this is a blip for me. Sending care, we’ll get there.
4 Likes