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Joint and muscle pain during radiation treatment

denaporter
denaporter CSN Member Posts: 10
in Breast Cancer #1

Hi my name is Dena and I was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer. I have had one week of radiation and I am extremely tired and my joints ache so bad. Is this normal?

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Comments

  • peony
    peony CSN Member Posts: 306 Member
    #2
    Fatigue definately comes with

    Fatigue definately comes with radiation. Mine didn't start until week 3. i didn't have any joint pain, but I've heard it can happen.

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  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 CSN Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    edited September 2016 #3
    I did not have any side

    I did not have any side effects at all-NO advice-but i know others here will be able to suggestions.

     

    pixie dust and hugs heading your way

     

    Denise

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  • corey50
    corey50 CSN Member Posts: 111
    edited October 2016 #4
    Yes to fatigue

    Fatigue is definitely a symptom of radiation. My advice would be to conserve your energy. Let your body heal and repair from the radiation. Mine started around week 3-4, and when I told the nurse she said that's usually when it starts. If I wanted to be standing (LOL) at the end of the week of radiation some things just had to wait and I took a nap every day when I got home from treatment ( I don't work so had that luxury). I told the radiation doc how it felt like I just had to sit down no matter what I was doing and he said yes, that's exactly how it feels, because I too thought something must be wrong to be this tired, but no, it's normal and that's just how tired you get. 

    As far as joint pain, my treatment was 11 years ago so I don't recall, but the radiation affects your bone marrow so I would think that joint pain could be possible, please check with your radiation nurse or doc for advice.

    Good luck and it does go by fast, even though it doesn't feel like it now.

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  • denaporter
    denaporter CSN Member Posts: 10
    #5
    Thank you all for commenting.

    Thank you all for commenting. I just finished week 3 of radiation and 3 more to go. Very tired and achy

     

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  • corey50
    corey50 CSN Member Posts: 111
    #6
    HALF WAY THERE

    Good for you. Keep on trucking, as they say. And don't worry when you're completely depleted by week 6, that's normal. Plan something special for yourself for when you're all done, it gives you something to look forward to. Even just a day in bed to rest with some good movies or books. LOL. Wishing you all the best.

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  • Mariangel43
    Mariangel43 CSN Member Posts: 79
    edited October 2016 #7
    I am working full time.  How

    I am working full time.  How can I work while dealing with this tiredness?  

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  • peony
    peony CSN Member Posts: 306 Member
    edited October 2016 #8
    I managed to work while

    I managed to work while taking radiation, but it was a different kind of tired than I experienced with chemo. Plus, it was only six weeks versus 6 or 7 months. The fatigue would come and go. It was worst in the evening, after treatment, so, eight o"clock usually found me in the bed or on my way. Anything I had to do around the house, but couldn't handle, I let lay for another day. Listen to your body cues: if you feel tired, rest; if you have some energy, go do something fun. And if you have FMLA and you need one, take a sick day. You're entitled. Be good to you.

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