Radiation

So sorry to hear that...
Waffle, I'm sorry to hear you're not tolerating the rads very well. How many rounds are you getting?

I went today for simulation. They marked the target areas, and I'll start treatments on Aug 26. Ten in all, with weekends off, finishing on Sept 9th. This is rads to my left upper arm and lower spine.

I'll be praying for you. Hugs, Gracie

sea60 said:

This will pass. I'm glad that you're almost there!!!

Rads will make you tired,
Rads will make you tired, so, get lots of rest. I always hate it when people say rads are a piece of cake because they aren't.

Keep the cremes on too.

So sorry that rads is making
So sorry that rads is making you tired. You may need to take a short nap or go to bed early. Rads do make you really tired but it does go away when you are done.

Hugs

Donna

Tiredness.
Good morning. I had six weeks of radiation and it will tire you out. After my radiation, I could not walk a block - felt like I had walked for 10 miles. I kept walking and within six months I was back to normal. Radiation is very powerful but you will survive it. On my last treatment I went to Chicago - work related. I did great. I would rest every chance I got. Just know this is normal.

Boppy_of_6 said:

Today will be trt. 20 for
Today will be trt. 20 for me, with 10 more 5 rads and 5 boosters. I have been very tired, and of course back to school so I am having to work. I am just now getting kinda red,a,little uncomfortable under the breast but not to bad. Best of luck. God Bless
(((Hugs))) Janice

So true Waffle
Everyone said Rads are a walk in the park compared to chemo but the chemo tired does give you a break in between treatments, unlike Rads that are every day. It does get better . God Bless,
Wanda

Profound fatigue
Your post confirms my decision not to return to teaching this fall. The breast health coordinator at my hospital told me the fatigue of radiation following chemo is "profound". My last chemo is 8/24, rad simulation 9/1 and treatments start mid-Sept. I can't imagine how the fatigue can be more profound than it is some days on chemo but as you say, it does let up at the end of each cycle. Good luck - we'll get through this.

It's all normal!
It's been a loooong, tired summer. I just (2 days ago!) finished 28 radiation treatments, followed by 5 'boosts'--and this bundle of energy has never been so low energy in her entire life! I felt better once my onc told me that he has many patients who tell him that chemo didn't tire them out as much as radiation. I didn't have chemo, but I've been going to bed by 9:30 every night since week 3. In short, radiation kicked my arse!

Bottom line: it's normal, and you just have to go with it. I'm told that it'll take a couple of weeks to feel the bounce back to more normal energy levels.

Now can someone can tell me when I'll stop molting...?

waffle8 said:

Update
Thanks for all the support it really helps..I will be 1/2 way done with my rads on Friday..And I can't wait to get it over....Still feeling like I got hit with a bus...Wondering if the tamoxifen isn't making it all worse? Because I am in the study I had to start that med. within 4 weeks of last chemo.....I also have been working since my diagnosis thru everything with just 2 weeks off for surgery .....So I think the combination of things has caught up to me?Maybe time for a break.....
But praise God I am still here able to share with all my pink sisters....

Congrats on soon being 1/2
Congrats on soon being 1/2 way done! The exhaustion will still hang around for awhile, even after you are done. I found that exercising really helped me. I know it sounds strange, but, it did. Just a walk seemed to give me energy. Good luck!


Jan

fatigue
Hi,

I finished 33 treatments on May 28 and am still exhausted. I'm a teacher and have had the summer off. I go back to work on Monday and a week from Tuesday, students.

I am scared to go back to work because of the fatigue. I am still napping 1/2 to 2 hours every day. I go to bed around 10 and sleep until 9. However, I am definately better than I was.

I worked during my rads last spring because work was NOT supportive. I filled out the FMLA, had a note from my rad. onc. and wrote on all my leave forms "Cancer, radiation therapy, doctor ordered".

Radiation is nothing compared to the side effects. I am planning on a year to 2 years before I start feeling normal yet praying it's less time.

If you are not working, sleep when you feel tired. 2 or 3 times, I took 2 naps in 1 day. Do what you need to do. I think working slowed my recovery. I remember working 7 to 3 daily, driving to rads, coming home and sleeping. The further into rads that I got, the more I slept. Sometimes I would sleep 2 hours after rads, be up for 1 hour and go to bed for the night.

I don't know if this is "normal" or not. But that's how it is for me.

Hope no one's is this bad

Betsy

Oh, and drink lots of water to stay hydrated!

rads after chemo
I only had rads and not chemo. I suspect that there is a cumulative effect that results in the tiredness. Get your rest. Take breaks when you need them and listen to your body. Eat well and know that you are almost at the finish line. You will be a rad grad very soon and the tiredness will go away.Keep slattering on those creams. They really work.
Hugs, K