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10-07-2008, 03:45 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 154
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Fatigue?
Hi guys, just checking in to say hello!
I was just wondering how long the fatigue after treatment lasts? I'm about 90+ days out, I think, and for about the last month I've just been totally dead tired. I work a lot of hours, but I'm more tired and worn out now than when I was taking treatments!
Is this normal?
Oh yeah, I almost forgot.
When does your hair come back???? It started to comeback, but now it seems to be at a stand still and is only about an 1/8 inch long and very thin! I used to have very thick hair, and I hate to admit it, but I've always been stuck in the 80's with a mullet!
(Don't laugh!)
And I'm grey! I was always dark brown but right before it fell out it turned white and POOF it was gone.
Hmmmm, didn't Buck Owens and that Roy Clark dude have a song like that back in the Hee-Haw days?
"Something something something, and POOF you were gone...?"
__________________
Diagnosis and Treatment: DX 12/07/07
Male Diagnosed with DCIS at age 39
Mastectomy on right breast
Tumor Stage pt1b NO MO
DCIS Tumor size 1.5 x 1.x .6cm
Infiltration tumor size .25X.17 cm
Bloom-Richardson Grade 3(score 8)
Nuclear Grade 3 with comedo necrosis
Estrogen+/Progestrone+/HER-2/Neu +++
FISH ratio 4.31
Lymph node removal scheduled 1/07/08
17 nodes tested and all negative 1/08/08
Started Tamoxifin 1/29/08
Oncotype DX score 52 (off the charts, according to my onc!!!)
Starting TCH 3/14/08
BRCA I Positive BRCA II Negative
Finished TC 6/27/08 continue Herceptin
8/1/08 Herceptin stopped due to low Muga score
Mastectomy on left breast 11/10/08
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10-07-2008, 05:11 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Hi Duga,
Nice to "see" you again and happy to hear you are doing quite well.
Fatique after treatment is a very complex thing. We all experience it to some degree or another. Thinking back, I honestly think it took me about 1 year to feel as if I was back to normal (whatever normal is ) Now mind you, I finished chemo the end of Nov. 05 but received herceptin until mid Oct. 06. So, I had herceptin to contend with also. However, I do know that fatique was an issue and it takes quite a while to resolve itself. Some people actually say their fatique has hung on for years.
As for the your hair growth. As I said before, I finished my chemo the end of Nov. 05. My hair didn't start coming in till February 06. I was starting to think it would never come in BUT it did. My hair is different now. My hair use to be thick and wavy and now is kind of thick and straight. A very small, (VERY small) wave in the back maybe but that's about it. BUT....hey, it's hair.
God's Blessings to you Duga...
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
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10-07-2008, 06:55 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 203
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Oh yeah. The fatigue is tough, and does not go away that quickly. I think there is
1) a cumulative effect, where you hold on thru treatment, and then it all piles up on you
2) the let down factor of not being actively "fighting"
3) the getting used to new normal - and I still don't know what that is.
It also sounds like you are a busy bee, so it's not surprising that you're still tired. The hard part I find is that I'm absolutely fine, and then I hit the wall, hard, and have to stop everything.
Take good care, and yes, it's normal.
Oh, I finished chemo 1.5 years ago (herceptin 9 months ago) and my hair is just long enough for a tiny little pony tail. It seems curlier and rougher, but I'm not sure. Came back gray at first, then back to my usual color - the first growth was like wispy baby hairs.
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Dx 8/06 Age 43 Stage IIIA multifocal throughout breast, largest tumor 5 cm, grade 3, comedo, ER+PR+HER+++
Neoadjuvant A/C 4X Dose Dense
11/06 Bilateral Mastectomy (no choice on the right, my choice on the left)
Taxol+Herceptin weekly x12, continuing with Herceptin, finished one year in 12/07
33 Rads
Femara for 5+ years, staying on (started with Arimidex, switched after about a month, much happier)
Abnormal brain MRI shows no cancer, but "extensive white matter diease" - unknown cause
BRCA negative - lots of cancer in my family
survivor of thyroid cancer
also have Crohn's disease
CT and bone scan say NED as of 5/13
dx with severe cardiomyopathy 5/12 (likely due to chemo and Herceptin), ejection fraction in low 20's, now up to 40, went to 50, latest read 12/13 is back down to 35
1/13 Acute pancreatitis - are you kidding me?
9/13 started Humira for Crohn's. starting to have some energy again
B12 and Vit D both needed supplementation
Cataracts in both eyes noted 6/12 - surgery in the next 2-4 years?
4/14 Kidney stones/blockage/infection - related to Crohn's Disease
5/14 My aunt passed away - she was diagnosed after I was with Stage I - not Her2+, then Stage 4 for about one year
6/14 Scans - still NED, thank God. However, broken rib (I didn't notice) lots of bone degeneration osteopenia/osteoporosis. I also still have cardiomyopathy secondary to chemo.
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10-08-2008, 09:47 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Alaska
Posts: 2,018
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Welcome back!
Good to see you, Duga! Fatigue is very normal for quite a while, and more so if your EF is stays low. Are you back to full swing working?
I was surprised how long it took for my hair to grow out at first. It was at least 2 months behind where I thought it would be. (I was figuring 1/2 inch per month.)
AlaskaAngel
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10-08-2008, 04:44 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
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had a hard time with the fatigue. give yourself a break now and then and accept help from anyone offering it. i think it was about 6 months before i had much hair. be patient.
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
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