Not sure where to turn as 6 months post Radiotherapy and more fatigued than the first few weeks after. My iron levels are at 13. When will all this subside. Financially will need to return to work despite how i feel as cant afford to be off much longer. Feel useless. Will i ever return to sny sense of normal. Just been referred for physio as issues with shoulder and more i use it the more it hurts. Has anyone been through similar
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Sorry Cath I can’t help you.
I didn’t have Radiotherapy…
sending best wishes to you.
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Hello, sorry you feel like this. I would have thought radiotherapy side effects would be minimal by now. I had 20 sessions and recovered quite quickly, although it can take some people a while. Have to chatted to someone medical about your low iron, as that might be the cause of your fatigue rather than RT. Hope you get an answer soon.
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Sorry I can’t help as not due to start radiotherapy until end of August. I’m on looking for hints and tips for getting through it now I’m finishing chemo.
Maybe speak to your oncologist or GP about these side effects.
Good luck
Hi @cath2
Sorry to hear you are going through such a difficult time 
I can relate as I also had radiotherapy and bad fatigue which has seen me sleeping recently for half the day on quite a few days (plus at night) - and I finished my radiotherapy last summer! However I think the fatigue for me was not just from the RT but all the treatments and stress of diagnosis etc. thankfully it is improving a bit now although I’m yet to go back to work. I also had shoulder issues and was referred to physio which has improved a lot. Just wanted to check you’ve had all your levels checked for thyroid, vit D? I’ve been on medication (levothyroxine) so maybe worth a check? (Although I’m sure you’re probably on it thought I’d mention it). I also found that increasing my daily protein intake to 60g a day is really helping, apparently we should have 1 gram a day of protein per kilo of bodyweight.
Sending you all best wishes. From what I can gather I think the fatigue does improve but it takes ages and I get sick and tired of feeling tired!
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Hello Cath2, Welcome to the forum so sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time at the moment. You been through a lot and radiotherapy can take a toll on us.
I know this is very easy for me to say, but I think you must get yourself better before going back to work. Pleased to hear you have physio arranged and feel sure this will help with your shoulder pain which in turn will make you feel better as pain can be draining, as regards fatigue and low iron I think you need to see your GP or maybe your local pharmacy will be able to help with some medication.
I do wish you well, sounds like you are have a real miserable time at the moment, hope you get sorted very soon. Do look after yourself, one day at a time at the moment.
We are all here for you, together with the breast cancer nurses on this site you could always call them on 0808 800 6000 who are extremely kind welcoming and knowledgeable,
Please let us know how your getting on wishing you well the very best for a speedy recovery.
Tili 
Thank you for your indepth message and sharing your story. My vitamin d and thyroid are both with in normal range. Have iron tablets. Ive been given sleeping tablets as even though i feel so tired, i struggling to sleep. Im normally active. Some days things are worse than others and my fatigue hits the floor leading up to my period.
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Hi, I empathise. Its been a year since my radiotherapy and I’d be lying if I said that all the symptoms had cleared up. My last episode of cording was in March - 7 months after RT. I also know that I am generally more tired than I used to be, but also notice its worse when my breast oedema is peaking - seems to flare up and down. Could be hormone related as peri-menopausal. Had soreness right on the ball of my my shoulder joint that was worse after activity ( physical job lots of lifting) for many months after but seems to have gone lately. Radiotherapy is the gift that keeps on giving.
Hi, sorry to read this. I had radiotherapy 2 years ago, and still get tired. I had my annual check up recently and was advised some people can still be fatigued many months and sometimes years. Your body had been through a lot. Sorry for the negativity. Plenty fresh air and fluids helped me a bit.
Hope you feel better soon x
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Hello @cath2
There’s obviously a lot going on for you here and I have had some experience of some of it .
I fell and damaged my rotator cuff on the opposite side to my breast surgery a couple of weeks before radiotherapy planning . It was thanks to the expertise of my Osteopath that I was able to get my arm above my head for my treatments. I hope that Physio helps you - I have been helped by Physio in the past but my first stop for any MSK problem is my Osteopath . She has also helped me with fatigue a couple of times the first being after labyrinthitis in 2006 and the second earlier this year when I had some sort of virus that was making me feel exhausted off balance and sick. Cranio- sacral Osteopathy is not really recognised but all I can say is that it’s helped me with fatigue twice now.
I also had fatigue after radiotherapy - it took me about 3 months to shake it off completely but I have been told that it can strike at any time in the few years after therapy and I’m sorry that you haven’t recovered .
I know a few people have suggested that you may have other deficiencies but one that hasn’t been mentioned is B12 which could fit with you being a bit on the anaemic side and it’s treated with 3 monthly injections.
I’m just wondering if on top of radiotherapy you are on any other medication that might be affecting you ? I had a lot of side effects from hormone therapy and a lot of family stress as well as my shoulder injury which affected my recovery .Not to mention then getting COVID .
I think the more you worry about getting back to work sometimes the more impossible it seems. It might be worth you calling MacMillan who I’ve heard are good at helping with financial issues and benefits . You haven’t said what your job is but cancer and cancer treatment fall under the Disabilities Act and you are entitled to reasonable adjustments on your return to work although in practice it’s not always easy to get these . Is there an option to work some of your hours from home as this seems to help some people either stay in work during treatment of get back afterwards .
Is it pain that is affecting your sleep ? I have had neck and shoulder injuries a few times and have found the following to be helpful . Use a smooth textured bedsheet ( I like bamboo best ) and if I wear something smooth in bed as well it makes it easier to turn over. I also prop my arms up on pillows and have a small pillow beneath my armpit on my upper arm ( I’m a side sleeper ) even now . I used a hot water bottle at night and stuck heat patches onto a tight fitting top ove my neck and shoulder and then put my normal clothes on top . Forgive me if you’ve tried all these things already.
I’m post - menopausal now but used to have awful very heavy periods I took evening primrose oil at the time for mood but I don’t know how your medical team would feel about that . One supplement I can recommend is Magnesium which can help with joint pain a bit and also gives you energy but can have a relaxing affect in the evening and help with sleep. When I was younger I took it for migraine prevention - it helped but those were related to my periods so I get far fewer now . Are there any options you could discuss with your GP to help manage your periods ?
It might also help you to get some counselling or to look at doing the Moving Forwards course. I know that sometimes the physical problems just seem overwhelming but if you can recover emotionally it will help your physical recovery - this was my experience anyway .
Sending love and best wishes for your recovery . Xx
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Thank you for your detailed message. The only deficiency is my iron, everything thing else is within normal range. Poor diet due to fatigue issues but my partners hands are tied with his mum. No other gamily to reach out too. I have scoliosis and fibromyalgia.
I am currently starting my first counselling sessions on Thursday. Ive attended the living with uncertainty course but found the moving forward sessions too much and took me over a week to recover.
With regards to family stress, where do i start. I lost my mum to lung and breast cancer 20th September 2024, i was diagnosed with breast cancer 28th October 2024 - only 5 week after loosing my mum. During this time my mother in law was in hospital having a full hysterectomy due to ovarian cancer at the age of 81, spending 9 weeks in and now palliative care and my partner is her sole carer. My 24 year old son has Aspergers and Dyspraxia and requires a lot of support. Have had a lot to process and try to navigate.
I am a counsellor myself and dont feel ready or safe and strong enough to support others at this time.
With regards to welfare and benefits, im accessing uc, lowered Council tax, water etc but being self employed there is very little support. My partner has had to cut his hours due to caring for his mum so very limited.
I have tablets for my increased anxiety and pain, concerns do keep me awake which doesn’t help.
I do have heavy periods and very limited as only spoke to the dr on Friday which everything they mentioned was not an opption due to the risks. Im also waiting for physio on my shoulder
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I’m sorry you’re in such a complex situation and that such a lot is going on for you . I’m sorry to hear about your Mum and mother in law -my mum died a few months before my diagnosis and I lost my Dad a year after I finished radiotherapy . I did the Moving Forwards course online - don’t know if that would be an option . There were only two live videos sessions and not everyone attended but I got a lot out of exploring the resources that were released to us at my own pace. Mac Millan sometimes offer free treatments for cancer patients including so I have heard , acupuncture which might help with pain and sleep. I hope you get some benefit from the counselling and Physio - which I hope is able to start soon . Take care xx
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Hi Cath2 - it really is a guessing game as to which side-effects you get, and when! I finished radiotherapy four months ago and have been on Anastrozole. The joint and muscle pain from the Anastrozole has subsided - only to be replaced by severe fatigue! Not sure if this is from the Anastrozole or radiotherapy? Unlike you, I can sleep at night but regularly sleep for a solid 12 hours and then take another couple of hours to wake-up properly 
. I’m desperately hoping this is temporary as I feel that I’m sleeping my life away!! Hope you feel better soon. Mx