[saleboat]

Hello everyone,

I'm scheduled to have my last Herceptin treatment for early-stage BC on Monday. Whoohoo! I'm ready to graduate, although of course I have some mixed emotions as I'm sure many of you can understand.

I finished chemo Sept 05, and finished rads in early January of this year. And I'm really getting frustrated because I'm still TIRED!!! At the end of the work day, I don't have much zip left-- I can maybe go to the gym one or two days of the work week, but other times, I head home for some R&R. I just want to feel normal, and it is clear that I'm not there yet.

Any hints on when normal starts to happen again? How long after treatment ends? When I tell my Onc that I'm tired, she just kinda shrugs her shoulders as if to say "me too!"

I'm torn-- there's a big test that I should schedule that would lead to a professional designation that would be helpful for my career. It is about 15-20 hours of studying a week, on top of my full-time job. I just don't think I'm up to it right now. I half think I should concentrate on getting back in shape, and spending time with my husband, maybe learn some Italian in prep for our trip in October. But then I hate to think that bc is somehow getting in the way of my other goals and there was a time when I could do all of this-- I'd be stressed out, but I would get it done.

I'm rambling. There are so many smart, mature women on this board who have seen it all. When does real life start again? Or should I keep smelling the roses for a while longer? Maybe I never pick-up where I left off, prior to hearing those incomprehensible words-- "you have cancer".

And I even feel guilty for asking these questions-- I know there are many women (and men) on these boards dealing with much bigger issues.

Many thanks in advance,
Jen-- Temporarily reformed Type A