How long does it take to recover from Chemo and Radiation?

Hi all, my first post here.

I've been down lately because of my continued fatigue and other minor issues such as chemo brain and neuropathy. My wife is a neurologist (lucky me!) and she has been such a great support, but I want to reach out to others on this journey because only we know what it's really like. While looking for answers about recovery, I came across this discussion. Now I see that there is no answer to my question, because everyone has different reactions to treatment.

I was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in March of 2016 and everything was over by late October 2016. It is a rare cancer in the US. Basically, it's in the throat region. Lots of chemo and radiation. 

My issue is that recovery a year out has been like riding a wave... sometimes I have decent energy, other times (like now) I just want to lie down all the time. The time between crest and trough is measured in weeks (one or two at most). So when I become weak, it really gets me down, like I'm back-sliding into my weakened place, not moving forward. I do a goodly (love that word) amount of exercise, but I tire easily, even when I'm feeling my best.

I wonder if anyone else is on this particular ride and can give me some insight into their experience. I'd love to hear from others who have, or still are, riding "the wave" of energy and fatigue. Have you figured out a way to manage it?

ggatlanta said:

Get this off my chest

Hi all, my first post here.

I've been down lately because of my continued fatigue and other minor issues such as chemo brain and neuropathy. My wife is a neurologist (lucky me!) and she has been such a great support, but I want to reach out to others on this journey because only we know what it's really like. While looking for answers about recovery, I came across this discussion. Now I see that there is no answer to my question, because everyone has different reactions to treatment.

I was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in March of 2016 and everything was over by late October 2016. It is a rare cancer in the US. Basically, it's in the throat region. Lots of chemo and radiation. 

My issue is that recovery a year out has been like riding a wave... sometimes I have decent energy, other times (like now) I just want to lie down all the time. The time between crest and trough is measured in weeks (one or two at most). So when I become weak, it really gets me down, like I'm back-sliding into my weakened place, not moving forward. I do a goodly (love that word) amount of exercise, but I tire easily, even when I'm feeling my best.

I wonder if anyone else is on this particular ride and can give me some insight into their experience. I'd love to hear from others who have, or still are, riding "the wave" of energy and fatigue. Have you figured out a way to manage it?

 

Sorry you are going through all that you have and I'm so glad that your wife is a great moral support and helper.  That is a big thing while going through recovery.  It might be a good thing to post about your experience seperately so that other's might be able to chime in.  Wishing you the best.

Kim

darcher said:

  I wrote something in

  I wrote something in another thread about ongoing affects of chemo/radiation and mentioned this thread since it was near the top of the list when I opened the forum.  It's been just over a month since I've ended treatment and am waiting on surgery.  The affects seem to be diminishing a little bit. One thing that seems to be helping is getting good news. Today I saw the oncologist to review the post chemo pet scan.  The tumour is pretty much dead.  He went on to say if we were to wait a few months it would probably be completely gone.  However, before I could say anything he told me "You're still going to have the operation..."   I don't want to take any chances of it flaring back up from a pocket of well hidden cells somewhere so there is no argument there. There were no lymph node indicators and no other cancerous signs so that's all good.  I almost felt guilty in a weird sort of way.  So many have it far worse than I do.   

  I think a lot of the fatigue is mentally driven due to this disease being on the cusp of our thoughts 24/7.  Yes, even in my sleep it comes in and wages war.  There are good days and bad days and within each there are oscillations up and down.  On good days, like today getting positive news it's mostly on the up side.  Even with that one still wonders is there something that was missed.   A pet scan won't see a cell cluster under about a million cells so that's something that I get to consider.  

 A couple things I've found do help.  I've been taking a protein supplement in the form of a powder mixed with milk.  The picture on the can makes it look like a tasty strawberry shake but in truth it's barely drinkable.  My daughter confirmed that when she  saw it and wanted some.  I made her a small glass. She took one sip, set it down, and said, "It's yuk".  She's 3.   When I have a couple that will take the edge off the fatigue.  

  Another item is simple exercise.  Taking a walk helps but Ive noticed that it needs to be one where you can have your mind distracted.   When I posted about this last week (I think) it was because I was disappointed with how easily I got tired doing something that shouldn't have worn me out.  Looking back on it.  Maybe I was expecting too much too soon and the thought and knowledge as to why I was running out of gas made it that much worse.  

I decided to set a goal of running 4 miles per day (average) for the two weeks before surgery and I've been hitting the weights pretty hard too. I don't know whether or not I can do this but I'm on track four days in. I'd say that my stamina was around 25% at the end of chemo/radiation but it came back pretty quickly. The bloodwork (RBC, WBC, H&H) showed me why I was a fraction of my former self. My body has been sore the past four days but it's a good kind of soreness and I sleep really soundly with it - though often not as long - maybe sleep is more efficient when it is sound. I've said it before but you look like an athlete in your picture so you do know how to exercise and I'd say that it can keep your mind off the bad stuff. I'm pretty busy doing the other stuff like preparing my family if I don't survive.

thxmiker said:

The thrush  - I needed a

The thrush  - I needed a mouth wassh and dissolve able tablets.  This treatment took about two weeks.  If I get a reoccurence it is because i have eaten to much sugar in my diet.  Now i have learned not to eat sugar and that has lept the thrush away.

 

I have never regained the feelings in my toes, and have dimminshed feelings in my two perferal fingers.

 

My sight and hearing took a little bit of a loss also.  I now use reading glasses and I am fine.  My hearing is dimminshed slightly.  I had a hearing test done and it says I am still better then average, but as a Audio Engineer I can tell it is off a little from before.

 

Taste and feeling warm again all came back to normal.  Taste came back quickly after chemo.  Feeling warm took two years for me to feel normal again.  I do like things sweeter then I did before chemo, and I can not eat pickles any more.  They upset my stomach.  (I used to love pickles!) 

 

Else, life is pretty much back to normal.  I actually move faster then I did when I started my cancer journey.  The daily walking turned in to daily jogging.  I went from walking a few blocks daily, to jogging 3-5 miles every day.   I lost 60 lbs and now I am very fit.  We eat only real food, no more fast food, no more boxed or frozen food!  We make fresh food every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Life after recovering from cancer is a real good thing!

Best Always,   mike 

Docs got me on Canestine to help with Thrush the stinging....and no Spanking The Monkey allowed for weeks....look at ugly people only and take cold showers...Doctors orders until stinging goes away and Thrush clears up.