How long after chemo finishes does the fatigue stop

Hi Squirrel 15 

I'm sorry to hear of your fatigue. I had a lot less treatment than yourself but mine finished in September 22 also. I am still struggling with fatigue. I chose not to return to work as I am incurable and my prognosis isn't great. My oncologist told me that it takes 3 months to recover strength after chemo then another 3 months to recover stamina. So given that that is now, I should have more energy. I personally don't think I'll get back to how I was pre cancer and treatment.

I am using the Untire app, for cancer related fatigue. I have found it quite helpful. I also go out for walks, which helps with energy and clears my head. I used to run pre cancer, I haven't a hope of having the energy for that now. I've also recently learned that I have a healing fracture in my pelvis, so it's a good job I didn't attempt it! Best regards and I hope your fatigue lessens at some point.

A x

Thank you Sistermoon for taking the time to reply, it’s so draining isn’t it trying to be ok and feel good when really all you want to do is curl up under a blanket and wish all this away and get your old self back, I will definitely try the app you’ve recommended, I wish you well, sending love xx

I read that a good rule of thumb is that it takes twice the time to recover as the time you go through your main treatment. I had chemo, lumpectomy then radiotherapy over about 7 months so I assumed about 14 months after that to regain energy levels.

However, it hasn't really worked out like that. It was a good year following chemo before I felt like I'd recovered from chemo, but then I'm still on bisphosphonates every 6 months and hormone blockers. Hormone blockers for me meant a sudden menopause with zoladex injections then exemestane on top, which means even less estrogen than if I was post-menopause. To say that was a shock to the system is an understatement.

I have not recovered my pre-treatment energy levels. I'll be around 50 when I'm due to finish the hormone blockers so hoping that will at least give me some energy back.

It's not all doom and gloom though, I am very much enjoying life, but I do need to pace myself. I am continuing to work from home full time, and lucky that I can do that, as I know I wouldn't be able to cope with commuting and being in an office all day, even just a day a week would mean no energy for the rest of the week for anything that I enjoy.

I was pretty active before treatment and did get back to running post-chemo but I have struggled to find the energy over the Winter and have enjoyed walks instead. Hoping to get back to that soon.

I settled more into a slower pace once I accepted that I wouldn't regain my energy levels. It is a long-haul and can be very frustrating at times but I've learned what I can and cannot do in one day, and that has definitely built up as time has gone on.

The very positive thing to come out of it all is that I am much more focused on what I can and can't do, so I am only doing things that I want to do and am better at getting rid of the guilt of not doing something just because I think I should be. I am also far more relaxed at work which I have found incredibly empowering. Nothing like a cancer diagnosis to get things in perspective.