Does any one out there find out that they still get tired very easy.

Some fatigue is normal, but I wonder if the anniversary of your surgery might be emotionally draining you as well. I would guess that you are feeling some fear and as well as anger, whether you recognize it or not. I am also a 14 year survivor and we think that when we are that far out, we should not have to worry. Anger and fear would certainly not be unusual and it's surprising how physically draining those two emotions can be. You sound as though you might be depressed and that would not be unusual either considering your circumstances. Are you getting some exercise? Not fun, but very important! Also have you considered asking your doctor about an antidepressant to help you through this bumpy time? Keep on sending messages!!

mssue said:

I went through the same thing back in December while still in treatments.I didn't really realize I was taking everyones head off while I was doing it,well I did but I didn't ,I thought it was everybody else trying to drive me crazy at work and at home.Then the crying started I mean it got to the point I was crying over everything and anything,that's when I knew something was wrong.I told my nurse I couldn't handle this on top of everything else,I almost never cry I couldn't take it anymore how was I suppose to work?Then I found out that my hormones were out of whack and the chemo was causing early menopause.They prescibed Effexor it's an antidepressant.It has helped alot,my husband confirmed that the other day I'm not biting his head off anymore.Talk to your Doctorlet them know whats going on.I hope you feel better soon.Please take care!
Sue

Just think of all your body, mind and spirit has had to go through in the past year, and it has to assimilate all this. We all understand that extreme trauma is exhausting. Well you have been living a trauma for over 6 months. First they tell you that you have a disease which may kill you. Then they do invasive diagnostic procedures like biopsies. Then they tell us bad news, and immediately put us under anesthesia and cut off a part of our body, and severely mess around with the underarm.

After we have recovered just enough, they give us poisons through IVs to continue to fight the remaining tiny cancer cells. Sometimes they go on from that to burn our bodies with radiation, sometimes leaving literal burn scars on our bodies.

All of these actions are an inevitable assault upon us as individuals. We have to process the traumatic information we are being given, and make informed decisions about our own treatment. And immediately we face a whole set of other traumas, also clamoring for our attention and decision-making process. All whilst processing information which will in all probability is completely strange to us, almost like a foreign language.

So it's not surprising that our bodies and minds give way. Fatigue and depression set in. And they need to be addressed as valid concerns. Personally, I think anti-depressants should almost be considered the norm for cancer patients, especially those with metastatic spread. There's nothing to be ashamed of. And in breast cancer there is a bonus, in that the anti-depressants can ease the inevitable hot flashes!

I have been told that chemo drugs can stay in the system for up to a year, and that radiation therapy takes about 6 months to recover from.

So I believe we all need to take heed, be much gentler to our own bodies and more tolerant of their responses to what is being thrown at them.

I know I need to hear this message daily!!!

Best wishes to all,
Sue in GA