Leg weakness

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Has anyone suffered with jelly legs? I'm 4 months post treatment for tonsil cancer and recovery has, in the most part, been pretty rapid. I returned to work on a phased return basis 3 weeks ago. 

For the most part I'm fine, but my legs are so weak. My job (specialist breast radiographer) is physical and busy but I'm supernumerary and not overdoing anything. In fact, walking at work tends to be very short distances between reception and the X-ray room. But when it comes to walking for more than 5 to 10 minutes in one go my legs become very achy and weak and I am just so slow! I'm not unsteady and don't feel like I'm going to fall.

I'm assuming this could just be muscle wastage? I was swimming 2 to 3 times a week but now I'm back at work I just get too tired to think about going out again in the evenings for a swim. I still walk the dogs and fortunately they're so lazy they're more than happy with a stroll around the block.

I think my real question is how long does this last?

  • It sounds more like radiation fatigue. You can ask your colleagues about radiation to the Posterior Cranial Fossa.

    It's why we get weak and why we gat waves of tiredness. Targeting the throat with X-ray still leaves an exit beam which can hit the brain stem. It does get better. I was largely over it in nine months or so but I know others who have had to have naps during the day for longer.

    I know it can poleaxe you out of nowhere.

    I think that's the likely explanation but do run it past your oncologist.

    The other thing to get checked is your thyroid function. RT can cause hypothyroidism.

    I hope you feel better soon

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below 

    https://todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica.com 

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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  • Hi Specrad

    i finished my treatment after 5 rounds of chemo and 35 radiotherapy sessions in mid February. for the first few months I was like bambi on ice. In the last couple of weeks I have felt the strength in my legs starting to return even though I have not put on any weight. It will take time but it will gradually build back up…try not to push yourself as we need time to recover  regards Angela x

  • Thank you for replying. I'm aware of PCF radiation effects but the legs in isolation don't fit. I've been fortunate enough to not need a nap for a couple of months and other than my legs I have no tiredness at all. 

    I actually saw my consultant yesterday. He thinks the most likely explanation is muscle wastage due to the extreme weight loss I've experienced as I'm not stuggling in any other aspects, so I'm just going to carry on as I am and hopefully things will start to improve soon.

    I have bloods done for my thyroid, amongst other things, on a monthly basis too as I'm on a trial so no worries there.

    X

  • Thank you for the reply. It sounds like you're a couple of weeks ahead of me as I finished treatment at the end of February and also had 35 and 5. Hopefully I'll feel some improvement soon as my consultant checked me over yesterday and is pretty certain it's muscle wastage causing the weakness.

    X

  • That makes sense …and it is similar to me as I lost just under 3 stone in weight by the end of the treatment. strength is gradually coming back…good luck regards Angela x

  • Ah yes. I didn’t realise you’d lost so much weight. I managed to lose very little thankfully. What I did find was that for 18 months I could eat like a horse and put no weight on. It was a bit of shock when it started creeping up. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below 

    https://todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica.com 

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

    Community Champion badge
  • Hi Dani that’s really interesting as I am been eating more than I would normally trying to put some of the weight back on and I am stuck on the post radiotherapy weight. That helps to know you had something similar x

  • I think the RT puts us into a sort of hyper metabolism. It’s strange that it lasts so long. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below 

    https://todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica.com 

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

    Community Champion badge
  • I will enjoy the new slimline me for a while then Grinning x