Post Cancer Fatigue

you are not alone, its been 4 yrs since treatment started and some days i feel worse than when i was going thru it all, i had TNBC and cancer free but these side effects are awful..praying for you

JPJC said:

Fatigue
Hi,

I am a Stage IV Colon Cancer survivor for 5 years now and continue to have issues with fatigue. I also have neuropathy issues that are very common according to my nurse at the cancer treatment center.

It is nice to know that I am not alone on this issue of fatigue. Sometimes I have energy and sometimes I get so tired that I feel like I am getting sucked into the couch and that there is a large weight pressing down on me, keeping me there. I carry a cot with me in my vehicle, so that if I am someplace where I can take a nap, I just pull it out and I do. It sounds kinda' goofy, but I don't care what anybody else thinks about it.

My oncologist is tired of hearing my complaints about fatigue and I understand that. He needs to focus on caring for those he can help and really can't afford to spend time on people like me, who are in remission.

None of the medications that I have had prescribed for me have helped with the low energy level or the pain and neuropathy in my legs. In addition, most of the meds make me crazy or give me suicidal fantasies, so I have stopped taking them. My marriage sucks and my spouse doesn't want to have any physical contact with me - I understand that because I look a bit grotesque.

Sometimes I question my faith and then feel like a hypocrite for doing so. It's pretty crazy - I should be thankful that I am still here and all that stuff, but sometimes I wish the cancer would just come back so I can get this crap over with.

Sorry if this sounds depressing, but that's my situation. It does feel good to get it off my chest and I suspect that I am not alone.

If anybody has any suggestions - please let me know. I'd rather get tips from somebody who has been there.

My mom had severe neuropathy from treatment. We have found that accupuncture and lazer chiropractic do wonders.

granny44 said:

I'm so sorry you all have been through so much - makes me feel almost (but not quite) "lucky". I have (or had, depending on how one looks at it, I guess) State 2b invasive breast cancer; 4 surgeries; chemo (8 rounds) and am supposed to be on entiestrogen treatment, but have stopped taking it for the very reasons described - chronic fatigue, joint and bone pain, neuropathy, "chemo-brain", etc. I haven't read the CURE article, but will get the magazine. I feel relieved to know that others are experiencing these after effects, or whatever they are. I'm not very far past treatment (last chemo was Nov. 11, '06), and was already discouraged because I'm not feeling that much better than when I was on chemo - but now (after reading your stories), I guess I'll just work on adjusting my attitude! Thank you so much for sharing - and blessings to each of you.

Hello,

I am fresh out of breast cancer op, radiation x 30 and now on Arimidex. I am supposed to take these for 5 years they say. It worries me as I am bloating and fatigued, but have trouble exercising because I believe I need a knee operation. Hehe a bit of a catch 22.

Just wondering how you are doing now, and wether you are still off the meds?

Cheers and kind regards

Adrienne(Leplastrier)

hodgkoid2003 said:

Fatigue, Disability, ADA
I see a late effects doctor at Sloan Kettering who specializes in those suffering from treatments that cured their cancer. In my case, over 19 years ago, for Hodgkin's Disease. Though I don't recall the conversation from last October exactly, we did talk about the fact that my fatigue has increased, especially following emergency heart surgery (late effects related) last April. The important thing that he told me, it was "normal". It was definitely a relief to have this conversation in front of my wife, totally unprompted. So at least, now, she knows I'm not just being lazy, and I don't feel like it.

As far as social security covering disability for fatigue, not too sure. Perhaps this is something that can be talked about with your doctor first, and then perhaps a representative from your social security office.

That being said, under the last presidency, the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) was amended to include (and please forgive my political incorrectness), that people with cancer, being treated from cancer, or dealing with issues as a result of, are considered disabled. The writing is actually more detailed than my summary, but perhaps that may give hope that since we fall under protection of the ADA, that it would make it more possible and less complicated to get SS benefits.

I don't know if that answered your question, but I hope it gave you some direction.

Paul E. (hodgkoid2003)

Hello Paul, March 25th I will be cancer free for 15 years, I am 37 years old and  I deal with chronic pain and fatigue. The winters especially leave me crippled. I was treated in Cornell Preb. NY NY for hodgkins lymphoma stage 4.  I feel like I cant function at work or at home. Atleast at home Im on my own schedule - I am always in pain, its hard to remember, the more stress I undergo the more pain I have. In accordance with the ADA have you gone on disability? I can not just quit my job, I have two children 17 and 8 that I need to support. I just cant do this anymore.

I have started experiencing extreme fatique this week also.  It will be 2 years this August 2017, since I had surgery and brachytherapy for a very rare type cancer.  I am so glad that I found this message board and am seeing that I am not alone in feeling so tired all the time with very little energy.  I am trying to work my full-time job, and find it really hard to get up lately and get moving.  I also have the Fibromyalgia along with Osteoarthritis.

I had breast cancer. It's been six years and I'm still suffering from fatigue. I'm always tried. I eat healthy and take vitamins but nothing seems to help. So no, you're not alone. 

lajolielolita said:

I am always tired and no one understands!
I am hodgkins lymphoma survivor. I was diagnosed in 2000. I am only 26 and I feel like I am 86. All my doctors say the same thing... Well you have a hypothyroid so lets check those labs and see if its not your thyroid. Yep, it never is! No doctors seem to have any answers and yet everyone close to me either think I making my fatigue up or they think they have a diagnosis for me. I wish I could make people understand how I feel. I am sooo tired almost all the time and adderall is the only thing that makes me feel like a normal person with a normal energy level. I hate to be a person that depends on a drug but the truth is, I do. Without adderall I wouldn't be able to work, heck I wouldnt be able to get out of my bed because I just feel that tired. But i cant tell this to my family and friends because they cant understand. I dont know how and I dont know why but having cancer/chemo/radiation changed me and I feel less alone to know there are others out there that feel the way i do.

My husband was treated for Non Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2014

valeriemom said:

post cancer fatigue

I thought after two years I would be ready to go.  It isn't so.  I am so tired all the time.  After chemo, radiation and surgery, I am taking Anastrozole for 2.5 more years.  It is wearing me out. After reading. it makes me feel at least like I'm not crazy.

me too, after 01 year of treatment, i am feel tired; i thought the fatige was gone, but it didn't