Hi all,I am just about finished chemotherapy (TCH) that the surgeon has said has shrunk my tumour significantly so great news! I have surgery at end of February and then in mid to late March will commence radiation on the breast and axilla for about 6 weeks. My question is about the fatigue that occurs with radiotherapy. I have been told different things - that it isn't as bad as chemo or it comes on later and stays longer. My fatigue during chemo has been manageable but I am not working. I have also been fortunate in really having very little chemo brain! I am interested in whether I can go back to work part time during this treatment? I will of course have to wait and see but just wondering about the experience of others.Thanks Jual

I had 35 treatments went to work after each one. I musr admit the fatigue hit me the last 5 weeks and l couldnt wait to get into bed each night.l was very stubborn and just kept going.l was at the traffic lihhts one day and thought ld love to sleep here. Lol we are all different so you may be fine. Just take it day by day. Adean

The radiotherapy just adds to the fatigue you are already experiencing. Going there every week day is tiring, plus the actual radiotherapy treatment.

I've been told the same thing, that radiation fatigue isn't as bad as chemo fatigue. I start radiation on the 29 th of Jan. I start back at uni the end of Feb so I'm really hoping i have already done the hard bit .

I was exhausted from 9mths of chemo and rads just made me even more exhausted.

I had radiotherapy post surgery ( no chemo)The fatigue was ok. I worked through most of it and had holidays during the last week. The week after finishing, you can feel quite tired.

Radiation therapy and fatigue | BCNA Online Network

adean
Member
8 years ago
I had 35 treatments went to work after each one. I musr admit the fatigue hit me the last 5 weeks and l couldnt wait to get into bed each night.l was very stubborn and just kept going.l was at the traffic lihhts one day and thought ld love to sleep here. Lol we are all different so you may be fine. Just take it day by day. Adean
kezmusc
Member
8 years ago
H @Jual

I did 6 weeks radiation as well after chemo. Drove there every day after work, did all my usual stuff. Ran my farm as well. Got burnt on the last week but had no problem with fatigue during or after whatsoever. All the best. XOXO
Jual
Member
8 years ago
Thanks everyone that is really helpful. I will go and talk to my boss soon and fill him in on possible outcomes and that whilst I might return to work part time I might need some more time off during or after! Fortunately I work in a hospital so they are very understanding. I really appreciate the sharing and it seems that fatigue will be an issue but the degree varies!
Anonymous
8 years ago
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Hendrix
Member
8 years ago
I had chemo and last Radiation was on the 14th December and I still feel tired but not sure if it’s a combination of both or one or the other
lgray3911
Member
8 years ago
I did 6wks radiation on chest and gland and underarm where nodes were removed. I worked during it. Was fine the whole way through. My skin was very very red but I was lucky that it didn’t react badly at all. The last week and for a couple of weeks after I was more tired than normal. Had a nap during the day when I could (I have 2 small boys) but felt good when I was up and about doing stuff but when I stopped I hit a wall! Have come good now again and energy levels are back to normal just in time for me to go back to school!! Good luck x
Jen001
Member
8 years ago
I finished radiation on the 2nd January. The first few weeks I thought it was a "non event" with nothing much happening other than some red skin. Then everything happened in the last 8 sessions (over Christmas): tiredness and radiation burns that required pain killers and gel with cling wrap. I'm a fairly active person and worked the whole way through radiation, but when the tiredness hit in those last 8 sessions, honestly I couldn't keep my eyes open. Its now two weeks after radiation and I'm fairly active again and no longer tired during the day.
JoeyLiz
Member
8 years ago
The fatigue builds up. Usually it hits around wk 3 and continues for 3-6wks after finishing. Most of my patients continue to work until wk 5/6, as that is also when the skin is at its worst and the skin can also continue to worsen for a wk or 2 after as well. But again every body reacts differently with fatigue (and skin reaction). The worst part is the traveling in and out for such a short appointment everyday!
Tm
Member
8 years ago
I had radiotherapy post surgery ( no chemo)
The fatigue was ok. I worked through most of it and had holidays during the last week. The week after finishing, you can feel quite tired.
Anonymous
8 years ago
The radiotherapy just adds to the fatigue you are already experiencing. Going there every week day is tiring, plus the actual radiotherapy treatment.