Post Treatment Cancer Related Fatigue

Bionicguy
Bionicguy Member Posts: 22
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I was diagnosed with squamish cell carcinoma (throat cancer) in late October 2016. Had a tumor on the base of my tounge and limph node on the left side. Started chemo and radiation treatments in November and completed all treatments in mid-January. I had 6 chemo treatments and 38 radiation treatments. No surgery.

What my MD Anderson docs waited to the end of the treatments was after the treatments things would get a lot worse before they got better. Boy, were they right! A couple of days after my last radiation treatment I told my wife I wasn't feeling well and laid down on the couch. I didn't get up again for 3 weeks. It was the middle of February before I started feeling human again. I still didn't feel great, but it was bearable. Then about a week ago I started feeling completly exhasusted and it hasn't let up. As I understand it, I am going through cancer related fatigue. Most days it is struggle just the shuffle into the kitchen and back to the recliner. Also sleeping is almost impossible... 3-4 hours per night. I walk around the house feeling like a zombie.

I'm trying to to do all the suggested actions to help with the fatigue, but don't seem to be making much headway. Has anyone gone throught this fatigue deal that could give me some advise on things to do and/or some idea of how long it might last. I feel like I'm at my wits end tonight. Thanks.

 

 

 

 

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Comments

  • SASH
    SASH Member Posts: 421 Member
    edited March 2017 #2
    Fatigue is common

    The fatigue is common but does go away in time.  You might want to get your Thyroid checked with a simple blood test as radiation sometimes damages the Thyroid which can add to the fatigue.

  • tomb247
    tomb247 Member Posts: 54
    #3
    Fatigue

    I finished 30 Rad treatments in March of 2015. Fatigue set in shortly thereafter and lasted probably about 4 or 5 months. I would go to work for a few hours and come home and be in bed by 7:30 or 8:00. I started walking everyday. This seemed to help me get my stamina back. Now two years out, I may be a bit more fatigued than before treatment but really feel pretty well. Everybody is different but this is what I experienced. Talk with your doctor if it does not improve and try to get the proper rest. 

     

  • BlacksuitDC
    BlacksuitDC Member Posts: 18
    edited March 2017 #4
    Fatique - check FREE T3 and Free T4 and your TSH

    Get checked for hypothyroidism. Radiation can damage your thyroid gland - as I am sure they told you. Don't go by your TSH number alone.   I was at MD Anderson, Head & Neck, 63 radation treatments, 6 weeks (six times) chemo treatments, and surgery (radical neck dissection) most of 2012. I was treated by Dr. Kies (Chemo), Dr. Weber (my surgeon), & Dr. Fuller (Radiation).  Have MDA order blood work to check your FREE T3, FREE T4, and your TSH.  Your FREE T3 number is very important.  Check your B12 levels.  Get a B12 shot each week (at home).  Check your B9 and B2 levels or just take an OTC pill daily. JUST adding this next info to be informed  - in case-  it is a hypothyroid issue.  Synthroid is prescribed 99% of the time. Synthroid about finished me off. Life finally is beautiful again since I was prescribed 'WP Thyroid' ( Late Nov 2016). Life greatly improved on 'Armour Thyroid' but still something was 'off'. (Local doctors don't happly prescribe anything but Synthroid. It was hard to find an MD that would try Armour Thyroid). I didn't give up. I kept reading and looking.  I was tired. I didn't feel GOOD. I wanted my life back.  My new local MD ENDO doctor (Nov 2016) told me about 'WP Thyroid'  (the medication's name).  http://getrealthyroid.com/why-get-real/wp-thyroid/   WP is the purest form of Armour Thyroid.  You probably will be fine and have no reaction if you need them.  I was not fine.  I added this Rx information to possibably save you from more lost months/years. You had to fight cancer. You knew that part. They skip over the part that you also need to fight to get your old life back.  Get your FREE T3 anc FREE T4 checked.   

  • Bionicguy
    Bionicguy Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2017 #5
    BlacksuitDC said:

    Fatique - check FREE T3 and Free T4 and your TSH

    Get checked for hypothyroidism. Radiation can damage your thyroid gland - as I am sure they told you. Don't go by your TSH number alone.   I was at MD Anderson, Head & Neck, 63 radation treatments, 6 weeks (six times) chemo treatments, and surgery (radical neck dissection) most of 2012. I was treated by Dr. Kies (Chemo), Dr. Weber (my surgeon), & Dr. Fuller (Radiation).  Have MDA order blood work to check your FREE T3, FREE T4, and your TSH.  Your FREE T3 number is very important.  Check your B12 levels.  Get a B12 shot each week (at home).  Check your B9 and B2 levels or just take an OTC pill daily. JUST adding this next info to be informed  - in case-  it is a hypothyroid issue.  Synthroid is prescribed 99% of the time. Synthroid about finished me off. Life finally is beautiful again since I was prescribed 'WP Thyroid' ( Late Nov 2016). Life greatly improved on 'Armour Thyroid' but still something was 'off'. (Local doctors don't happly prescribe anything but Synthroid. It was hard to find an MD that would try Armour Thyroid). I didn't give up. I kept reading and looking.  I was tired. I didn't feel GOOD. I wanted my life back.  My new local MD ENDO doctor (Nov 2016) told me about 'WP Thyroid'  (the medication's name).  http://getrealthyroid.com/why-get-real/wp-thyroid/   WP is the purest form of Armour Thyroid.  You probably will be fine and have no reaction if you need them.  I was not fine.  I added this Rx information to possibably save you from more lost months/years. You had to fight cancer. You knew that part. They skip over the part that you also need to fight to get your old life back.  Get your FREE T3 anc FREE T4 checked.   

    Thank you for sharing your

    Thank you for sharing your research and information. I had not thought of the possible thyroid damage, but it make perfect sense. I have a follow up appointment on Wednesday with the medical folks and will take this information with me. I hope you (and everyone else) are doing well and cancer free. Thanks again.

  • stevenpepe
    stevenpepe Member Posts: 234
    #6
    Totally normal reaction to

    Totally normal reaction to therapy. I had 68 rounds of rads in less than a year. The first couple of months are the toughest. All of your symptoms are very common. It does get better.

  • Sprint Car Dude
    Sprint Car Dude Member Posts: 181
    edited March 2017 #7
    Sounds about right.

    Your symptoms sound about right to me. 35 rads/7 chemos here. I am about four months out from treatment. I have started working a few weeks ago and all I do is work and sleep. Life seems to get just a little better as the weeks pass. Fight the Fight!

  • Bionicguy
    Bionicguy Member Posts: 22
    #8
    BlacksuitDC said:

    Fatique - check FREE T3 and Free T4 and your TSH

    Get checked for hypothyroidism. Radiation can damage your thyroid gland - as I am sure they told you. Don't go by your TSH number alone.   I was at MD Anderson, Head & Neck, 63 radation treatments, 6 weeks (six times) chemo treatments, and surgery (radical neck dissection) most of 2012. I was treated by Dr. Kies (Chemo), Dr. Weber (my surgeon), & Dr. Fuller (Radiation).  Have MDA order blood work to check your FREE T3, FREE T4, and your TSH.  Your FREE T3 number is very important.  Check your B12 levels.  Get a B12 shot each week (at home).  Check your B9 and B2 levels or just take an OTC pill daily. JUST adding this next info to be informed  - in case-  it is a hypothyroid issue.  Synthroid is prescribed 99% of the time. Synthroid about finished me off. Life finally is beautiful again since I was prescribed 'WP Thyroid' ( Late Nov 2016). Life greatly improved on 'Armour Thyroid' but still something was 'off'. (Local doctors don't happly prescribe anything but Synthroid. It was hard to find an MD that would try Armour Thyroid). I didn't give up. I kept reading and looking.  I was tired. I didn't feel GOOD. I wanted my life back.  My new local MD ENDO doctor (Nov 2016) told me about 'WP Thyroid'  (the medication's name).  http://getrealthyroid.com/why-get-real/wp-thyroid/   WP is the purest form of Armour Thyroid.  You probably will be fine and have no reaction if you need them.  I was not fine.  I added this Rx information to possibably save you from more lost months/years. You had to fight cancer. You knew that part. They skip over the part that you also need to fight to get your old life back.  Get your FREE T3 anc FREE T4 checked.   

    Synthroid

    BlcksuitDC, I took your advice and got my thyroid values checked. Turns out my thyroid is out of whack and I'll need medication. My TSH was 0.10 (normal 0.27 - 4.2) and the Free T4 was 1.81 (normal 0.93-1.70), didn't get a Free T3 value. I'm going to MD Anderson and they are insisting on Synthroid. From your post it looks like you didn't have a good experince with it. Can you share what your experince with it was and what I should look out for with it? If you aren't comfortable sharing on an open forum you can email me at sbrrider87@yahoo.com. Appreciate it.

  • Crazymom
    Crazymom Member Posts: 339 Member
    edited March 2017 #9
    Sleep

    I started back to work about 2 months after radiation.  At first I would leave around 3:00,  if I was tired.  My boss told me to leave when I was tired.  After a few months I was back to working full time.  After 2 years of recovery I had my thyroid checked and I needed medication.  I am on Synthoid but looking into Amour.  I still get tired and go to bed early. 

  • Constant_Pain96
    Constant_Pain96 Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2017 #10
    CFS

    I've had chronic fatigue since treatment 21 years ago.  I've addressed diet, weight, exercise, meds etc.

    Still no better. I have to accept that I only have a budget of 3-4 hrs (of energy) per day, then I should rest.

    Of course, life doesn't work like that: I have all the household chores to do, for starters. Often I do too much, then I'm in bed for days.

     

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