I am almost 2 weeks on from my last of 25 rad treatments. I was **bleep** a hoop for the first 3 weeks thinking that I had got away with any side effects. How deluded I was! Although luckily my skin has been ok apart from feeling a bit sore and swollen. However for the last 2 weeks or so I have felt so tired and below par. As has been said before, this fatigued feeling isn’t something that you can sleep away, in fact I did try to nap at times but sleep wouldn’t come. The other thing is that I have absolutely ached all over all the time and at times feel like my head is in a vice. I raised it with the ladies in the clinic but they thought maybe it was a bit of a virus.
As I said, I constantly feel below par ( best way I can describe it) and wonder if this is till the effects working through. I worry as tomorrow I have a return to work meeting with a view to returning on 23rd. Today I really don’t feel up to it. When I originally planned the meeting way back, I gave myself 3 weeks after rads to recover before going back to work. Now I think I overestimated my recovery time. Not really sure what to do.
What sort of effects have other people suffered apart from sore skin etc? How have you coped? How long did it go on for? How soon did you return to work after rads? Some people will say that they worked through rads, but in my case I was recovering from lumpectomy with reconstruction on both sides so its taken a while.
Ah yes, just when you think you’re winning …! I was forewarned by a friend who’d had radiotherapy that the effects really hit big time about 10-14 days after your last session. He had it for colo-rectal cancer, but he was absolutely right. It got worse for a few days, then you do start to come back up again, promise! I had far fewer than you, only 15, but as the effects are cumulative it doesn’t sound surprising that it’s affecting you more.
As to the how long does it last question? Looking on other breast cancer sites the answer seems to be ‘as long as it takes’. You’re not a wimp if you don’t feel ready to go back to work just yet. I think that even thinking about it sounds like pushing it. Does your work have a part-time capacity? But please, please, be kind to yourself. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t feel you can make 23rd. It sounds awfully ambitious to me!!
Don’t ever forget that radiation is a very powerful weapon, but because we just lie under a whirring machine for a few minutes we lose sight of that. It’s killing cells, which is a good thing as it’s very targeted, but our bodies need to get over the ‘hey lady, what the heck do you think you’re doing to me?’ reaction, and on with the ‘OK, let me catch my breath and then get back to building you back up again. Please don’t do that again!’ reaction.
I’m 5 weeks after finishing, still needing an afternoon lie-down half the time, but feeling better everyday. But I’m mostly retired, what work I do is at home on the computer, and I’m old enough to have learnt that my energy is not boundless!
Hi JF , I think it depends on the individual as some ladies have said that rad treatment was a breeze.
It was not for me as I found it traumatic getting on that machine each day as it really hits you that you have cancer. I could feel mine especially when they put the little nodes on you to measure the dose. In the end they had to quickly measure the dose switch machine off take the nodes off then switch machine on again to finish treatment.
The tiredness thing was weird as it suddenly came over me and I would feel incredibly weak for awhile then it passed off. I finished on April 16 th and I felt tired and washed out well into early June then it gradually gets better.
I think the whole trauma of having the cancer, getting it removed , the impact on the family etc, etc, catches
Up with you and that what makes you feel rubbish. Everything happens o quickly and from the biopsy until I was discharged from oncology was nearly six months of hell ! . Physically your body heals in a certain time but mentally it takes longer I think?. Anyway you must remember your immune system is working overtime as all the cells in your beast have been killed and the good ones are now replacing themselves. I had problems as the rad treatment touched my lungs causing me to build up fluid and become breathless then I got an infection and it took three weeks of antibiotics to sort it. I can honestly say I am only just feeling more i used to before the cancer diagnosis only in last couple of weeks. I keep away from people with colds or any sort of ‘bugs’ as best I can. Got slightly OTT about hand hygiene of everyone coming into the house. My hubby washes his hands straight away as he works with older people . I am fed up feeling ill but hopefully turned corner now. Don’t be pressurised into going back to work before you are ready .
I am going to,ask if I can have the flu vaccine as feel my immune system is completely had it!. Take care , Katy.
JF, if you can’t even think about going back to work then don’t. I think everyone on these discussion groups has learnt the hard way to listen to their bodies - and hearts. In our digital always-connected world we’ve got away from using our instincts and our gut feelings. These months of forced inactivity have allowed those inner voices to come back. So listen to them!!! Then you’ll know when it’s time to think and time to do.
Hi JF I have a meeting today about phased return starting 01/10/13 I feel I need to go back and am only going to be doing 2 days a week for 4 weeks. I know I’m ready my underarm is sore but I will be sitting on a computer and mostly catching up after 7 months off.
Marie
I am due to start rads on the 30th September 25 sessions, consultant rang me yesterday and said he forgot to mention that i was to have rads to my collar bone as well, has any one else had to have this as well? bit worried now.
I’m 10 days on from last session of 15 rads which followed chemo and surgery. Like yup my skin has not been too bad but I’ve suffered from extreme fatigue. I’ve had nausea, slight dizziness and noticed very low body temperature when I’ve been feeling ill. Also just completed a course of antibiotics for a urinary infection so my immune system must be low. Like you, often can’t sleep and if I do wake up just as exhausted. It’s oddly reassuring to find someone else who feels like this.
Hi JF I have only just finished rads yesterday so will have to wait and see how I am but I am hoping to return to work in about 3 weeks! My skin has developed a prickly heat type of rash 3 days before the end of treatment but that’s all upto now. There is a bad virus doing the rounds though so do take care xxx
I am just a week after finishing now Eli and my skin is not too bad. I’ve been using hydrocortisone for the itch and washing with aquamax. I am not really tired either but I am waiting to see if that happens next week. Emotionally though I am all 9ver the places. Feeling frustrated with everyone, angry and upset! I am hoping it passes. Hope you start to feel better soon too x
Thanks Ali,
Yeah I’ve been very emotional too - but I also have anxiety and PTSD (which wasn’t helped by having to strip to the waist all the time throughout this!!) so I wasn’t sure what my particularly emotional state was down to.
Might try to phone for a practice nurse appointment tomorrow - or today actually now - as it’s looking a bit yellow on the dressing and it’s coming through the dressing. Very sore.
I hope you continue not to be tired or sore! Thanks!!