I’m feeling a bit of a fraud reading this thread. I finished 15 rads a week ago, after a WLE for High Grade DCIS, and I cannot believe how exhausted I feel. I only sleep about 2-3 hours a night anyway (have done for years) and so I’m used to feeling tired - but this is on a whole other level. The radiographer also told me that this isn’t a tiredness that can be helped by sleep. My skin is also breaking out much more now than it did during treatment and I have dressings etc to help. I also have what feels like a dull pain within my breast. I’ve also been feeling pretty down. But I’m also so very aware of how lucky I’ve been. There was nothing invasive so I didn’t need chemo, so should I be feeling this bad? How long does it last?
Hi EliB, I have the last of my 15 rads tomorrow. I also had WLE and re excision for high grade DCIS. I have been pretty ok through radium until this weekend and the 4 day break. When I went today I told them I have what feels like prickly heat and pain in my breast. They told me this is all normal and said it may get worse after treatment! Although I am delighted to be at the end of treatment I am also feeling pretty down. I just want normality back!! I hope you soon feel better xxx
Thank you all! It’s reassuring to know that all this is normal. Think I though that as I hadn’t needed chemo, then I should be feeling better than this - like I wasn’t as badly off as I’ve been so lucky, so why am I feeling like this? Especially the down part and the fatigue. I am drinking a lot of water as well as trying to go for a walk each day as I’ve been told that can help. Ladybowler, no I don’t work just now due to other health issues (I have PTSD) and so I get counselling for that anyway - had to go private for that - nhs were offering no PTSD help! I might try and bring up how I’m feeling post treatment etc. As it’s so expensive, I tend to just stick to the reason I’m there but it might help to verbalise this too. Don’t have my own family and my sister and other extended family are, at closest, 300 miles away. So I suppose I feel quite on my own. I have great friends but I don’t like to burden them.
Thank you!!!
Hey Eli it is very understandable that you are feeling like this. I think the end 9f treatment is l9nely because although we don’t want to be at the hospital each day it is like having a support network. Please call on your friends and let some of them, at least, know how you are feeling. They really won’t know unless you tell them because we all go al9ng with our outer shell saying we are fine! Also now that your treatment is finished could you visit your sister or family and perhaps get a little TLC and a break there? Hope you feel better soon. Sending you a big hug xx
Hi all to those I’ve met before and newcomers since.
Today is my last day of rads… very strange feeling.
Feels really scary and I didn’t expect to feel like this although had been warned it’s likely. Sad almost. I’ve booked onto a moving forward course with local maggies Centre and start that next week.
Sorry I haven’t kept up with thread and hope you are all doing OK. Even if I’m not here typing I am sending loving and healing thoughts x
Will ring the bells loud and clear this afternoon.
Best wishes everyone I will try and pop on more but Christmas has taken over, daughter back from uni etc etc.
Thank you for all the support and listening. A great bunch.
Ps think the tamoxifen is playing games with my hormones and if i carry on writing this will get ott emotional! Take care xx
Ring the bell
3 times well
It’s toll to clearly say,
My treatment’s done
This course is run
And I am on my way!
X
Onwards and upwards
Thank you Helena. The rads time went quickly all in all so you will be there in a blink of an eye 
Got to keep an eye on things as my skin is breaking a bit but hey all good.
Off for a curry with family tonight … yum yum can’t wait x
I have just discovered this forum and am so glad I’m not the only one feeling exhausted. I finished 18 days of radiotherapy on 30th December. I went back to work yesterday and worked 8.30 to 5. Went into work today and couldn’t cope. In was so tired. I nearly cried when trying to explain to my boss how I was feeling. I came home at 11 and went straight to bed . I will take tomorrow more slowly. Just feel such a fraud. I had grade 1 cancer so no chemotherapy . Just thought I would not get this tired. Still sore with skin breaking abit
Hi kate I finished a day before you but I am still off work. In my review meeting they said radiotherapy symptoms can peak 2 weks after the end of treatment. My GPS said she will see me on the 10th to see how I am and then she may let me start my phased return. I am OK so I think I will be back soon. I know I am lucky to have a job with sick pay too. Did you not have a return to work meeting with your boss - I think you need this to discuss how you will return and what is expected of you. Take care of yourself and I hope you feel better soon xx
Hello everyone
I finished radiotherapy in August and started going back to work in October/November. I still cant do a whole week without being totally wiped out by Thursday, never mind Friday. Not sure everyone gets it a work as I look normal on the outside and they’ve been very good about me finishing early when I’ve had enough, but I’m sure there is still an underlying expectation that now I am back, I can do it all!
Someone at work this week said that I’m being a bit hard on myself as it’s only 4/5 months after treatment finished, and loads of people wouldn’t even be back at work yet - but its difficult to change a habit of a lifetime and give myself a break. It’s good to read this forum and to remind myself that I need to give it time :)
I’m nearly 6 weeks post rads and I actually feel the tiredness is getting worse, not better. I don’t sleep much at night due to other health issues (2-3 hours is usual) but for the past week/10 days I’ve been going from my bed to the sofa and really struggling to move off it! I’ve been drinking lots of water as per advice but this exhaustion is awful. Should it not be improving by now??
I completed my fifteen sessions of Radiotherapy on Monday, and I have developed a rash above my breast, I went back to see the ladies at the centre and they said it is normal, but to keep an eye on it. As for fatigue, it came from nowhere and try as I may I cannot not keep my eyes open at times. I also feel like a fraud as I am ‘over the worst’ as friends and family say. How do I explain this to them ? I am 67.
Thanks Dizzybee thats reassuring that it can take months. I don’t want it to obviously, but at least knowing that this is ‘normal’ helps!
Stefa, I’m exactly the same, trying to explain this to friends and family who think that I’m ‘ok now’ because I’ve finished rads. I’m sure some of them think I’m being melodramatic when I say I struggle to move from the sofa. I’m 45 and I’m sure they’re fed up listening to me saying I’m tired (from other health issues) and so they see this as the same - it isn’t! I thought I knew what ‘tired’ was!! I’ve also had an infection in the rads site. Changing dressings twice a day still. I’m more than ready to feel better - but feel bad saying that as I know I’ve been really fortunate!
Dizzybee I have that shakey thing too…it’s quite reassuring that others do as I was a bit alarmed! Also have irritable legs like you do when you’re really tired.Sometimes I feel fine-ish…today I went round town for less than an hour and could barely haul myself up the stairs to my flat.If I say to people fatigue is normal after rads I get"ah that doesn’t mean you have to get it"- well I have got it!!!
Hi. I had my rads in September last year. I’m still exhausted. I did a phased return to work before Christmas and back full time in January. I’m so tired now, I want to sleep all the time, I don’t sleep well despite the tiredness and not sure how normal this is. I’m completely exhausted. I’m 42!
Four weeks post radiotherapy and am exhausted. Back to work on reduced hours, I.e. finishing at 3 rather than 5… but by time I get home, I can’t keep my eyes open…
I am 4 weeks post rads and have been back at work for 2 weeks. I am doing ok but at times feel utterly shattered and a bit tearful. My hubby says i am being too hard on myself and expecting too much of myself but i just want to get back to normal! I am off for 2 weeks now and hoping to rest a bit and i am also starting a ‘moving on’ course which i hope will help too xx
Thanks Helena, i did rest a bit yesterday but i am shattered again tonight. I am off work now though - almost 2 weeks for half term! Its hard to rest with 3 kids and work but i’m going to try. It is actype of wiped out tiredness i feel and i am frustrated by it. Anyway you take it easy and keep having those afternoon naps xx
Thanks for replying Lucy and i am so glad its not just me although I’m sorry you are feeling it too. I keep saying i cant understand why i’m feeling like this and then remind myself!! Xx
I couldn’t get going this morning so missed work and it’s only Tuesday! I’m on day 12 of 20 so I really hope I don’t get worse