Radiotherapy

Hello JPP1

I had radiotherapy (to my pelvis) but similar effects. Aching joints, very lethargic- everything seemed to take more effort. I also had some skin irritation and the tingling you mention. When I saw my consultant for my post radiotherapy check up she said these were all normal effects and that radiotherapy takes a while to recover from. She said it continues to work for a few weeks after the last session and explained it by saying it damaged the bad cells but also affected the good cells. Whereas the cancer cells would hopefully be killed off, I had to give it time for the good cells to recover. 

I think also you have to sometimes look at the whole journey, the shock of being diagnosed, going through surgery and having follow up treatment. Its physical but also emotional and once treatment stops you have to give yourself time to heal. That is what I found. I still have a bit of the fuzziness in my head that you mention. 

All I can say is that you have been through a lot and time can be a great healer. I found just all the travelling back and forward to the hospital tiring alone. My radiotherapy finished at the end of September and am still not completely back to normal. 

Regarding the hormones, I can empathize - I had a hysterectomy so all of a sudden hormones dropped. I feel lucky that they have now settled but it did take a while. Hopefully yours will begin to settle as your body gets used to the medication? 

You mention about taking Anastrozole- I will pop a link here as some of the symptoms maybe similar to what you are having and it gives some advice that you might find helpful.

-Anastrozole (Arimidex®) | Macmillan Cancer Support

I hope this helps a bit. But feel free to rant away! Sometimes writing it all down helps.

Take care

Jane

Thanks Jane..

Hi JPP1 , I’m on Anastrozole too and I’m also 63! But I’m lucky to have been able to retire earlier than planned, a couple of years ago. Was diagnosed at 59. Re hot flushes, I had a 6 week course of weekly ear acupuncture sessions at the Maggie’s centre at Addenbrookes. I made a couple of lovely similarly hormonally deranged friends there and we still meet up from time to time. We all found that the acupuncture helped with the intensity of the hot flushes even though they didn’t disappear altogether. Worth looking at whether that’s available near you. Others here have also found that acupuncture was helpful. 

There’s also a thread, if you haven’t seen it already, called ‘Oestrogen reducing medications’ in the Diagnosis and Treatment section here. Love and hugs, HFxx 

Hello JPP1

I like you had 5 days of radiotherapy and at the beginning was fine about two weeks after finishing radiotherapy it was like I had hot a brick wall. No energy, everything was an effort to do even having a shower was an effort. They said to go for walks, as this would help. Laugh I nearly fell out of bed crying with laughter, it was bad enough walking to the toilet that took all my energy and I would lie down and go to sleep. 

I was also on anastrozol and stuck it out got a year. When I went for my first review last year I mentioned how I was feeling. The doctor told me to stop taking them for a month and see how I was. We discussed different options and she would write to my gp with what we had discussed.

I have been on my new hormone tablets since January and feel so much better. I even enjoy a short walk now, so don't suffer in silence talk to your breast care team and see if a change of tablets will help. 

Many thanks HF ..I'm also having acupuncture but on lower legs & feet ?! Hopefully he's in the right area ;) Not close to my ears though, I'm not that supple  I'll mention the ears next time I go. I occasionally get the urge to sob/shout/drink G&T...but only when the dog allows me !!! Oh & the husband is cooking ... :) 

Hi Hellesden...what medication are you on now ? Thanks 

Hi sorry it has taken so long to reply but have been visiting my newest granddaughter who was born on the 30th April and they have called her Mabel. She is such a cutie. 

Now to get down to what medication I'm now on, it's called Exemestane and it's 25mg once a day. 

I really do feel so much better and having a bit more energy than before. 

Once again all the best.