I completed 15 treatments of radiation for my left breast. I have to say that I was already fatigued before I even started. I found out after a mammogram that I had a spiculated 1.9 cm mass in early September. I had a lumpectomy and 4 nodes removed and found out that 2 of the nodes were cancerous. My hospital sent my nodes to the U.S. for ONCO typing. I was fortunate that my the number I was give was 25 which allowed me to go without chemo. Then I had scans done of my chest, abdomen, and pelvis. They were clear of cancer either the exception of a very small node in my right breast which will be scanned again 6 months down the road. The ONCO test results and then the scans that followed took so long to complete that I didn’t start my radiation until December. In the mean time I had already started on Anastozole in November.
I was already exhausted from all of the waiting and starting the hormone blockers before I even started radiation. I was so lethargic and had lost most of my appetite that I basically slept and slept the night and day away.
I finished my radiation on Jan 6 and I am just starting being able to stay awake through the day which is a big deal for me. I still need to lay down and rest but I don’t have the same fatigue where I just have to go straight to bed to go to sleep.
I don’t know how many more weeks the tiredness will stay but I do feel the worst is almost over.
I am honestly surprised when people say they can go through surgery, radiation and years of hormone blockers without side effects. They are truly blessed.
What a wide range of side effects! I had a bit of an upset stomach after my first session and was told nope it’s not the rt…and yet I’ve heard multiple people say they’ve had that. Also started letrozole the end of December and so that came with fatigue and now with radiation starting I think I’ll be spending a fair amount of time resting.
I had 15 sessions and didn’t suffer from tiredness until a bit right at the end, still managed to go running 6 times week. I usually rested for an hour or so when I got home from treatment and had extra drinks. The itchy rash a couple of weeks later and the various cording over the next 6 months were frustrating especially as I did moisturise a lot and did a lot of stretching and mobility exercises, but I put this down to having the lymph nodes in the axilla and supre clavicular area zapped in addition, (plus I read that cording is more common in younger people and with a lowish BMI). Hope it goes well for you
Hi Twinks, I had radiotherapy on both sides (5 factions on both and 4 boosters on one side) recently, I feel fine and not suffered tiredness or fatigue. I’m not on endocrine therapy yet though. That might have some effect if you are. Walking has helped a lot before and after surgery as well as through radiotherapy. Also listening to your body and taking rest when you really need to rather pushing through. As others have said, start moisturising. I was advised to use E45 (lotion or cream is fine) and it has really helped with keeping the skin good. Good luck!
I had 25 radiation treatments and I Never felt exhausted. My Oncologist advised me to drink 10 glasses of water during chemo treatments and I continued drinking 6 glasses of water during radiation treatments.
All the best to you!
I had 15 sessions of radiotherapy having previously had 6 months of chemotherapy and a mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction. I found radiotherapy didn’t really make me feel tired compared with chemotherapy which caused terrible fatigue. Maybe it’s all relative. I also was able to walk round the corner to the clinic for my treatments so no long journey to manage. And I wasn’t working so I feel I had the perfect scenario (if there is such a thing with cancer treatment!). Good luck with your treatment. You’ll soon be through it.
I had eight sessions of radiotherapy after completing 18 weeks chemo. Had fatigue for about a week after each chemo but still worked (office based). The radiotherapy- it was a breeze was more stressful getting there than the treatment! Will emphasise PLENTY of moisturiser after your treatment. I used a specific gel for radiotherapy and the nurses were always standing with the gel ready to ‘slap it on to me’. Hopefully your treatment will all go as well for you.
Interested to be reading this thread….had 5 radio session last week. I’ve booked myself a week off work this coming week and am waiting for/anticipating The Big Tired to descend. I’m firstly now hoping it doesn’t come at all and secondly hoping it doesn’t hit when I’m planning to be back at work! I’ve had so much time off sick already.
Another Canuck on this site. I found the British have more resources and forums than Canada does. Don’t understand why.
Radiation fatigue has really impacted my life. Today I had to do some furniture rearranging and that exhausted me. Then I had a shower and I thought I would vomit I was so fatigued.
It’s shocking that after 7 months I am still not recovered. I was given the choice of genetic testing or radiation. Every day I regret radiation even though if the genetic testing showed a likelihood of cancer returning I would have ended up with radiation anyway.
Where are you located? Fingers crossed you have no side effects.
I’m in BC. Funny cause I find there is a lot more info coming from Britain as well. It’s like they’ve invested more time into research and actually getting feedback. I just finished 2 weeks of radiation with 2 more weeks to go (5 regular and 4 boost) Are you taking any hormone blocker? I tried the letrozole for 5 weeks and it gave me stomach cramps and nausea (it wasn’t the radiation!), made me dizzy and affected my mood and sleep. I’ve been off it for 5 days and felt better within 2! Not sure if she’ll try Anastrozole which seems to be the standard in Britain.
