Severe fatigue

Hi Sm7,

Yes!  I'm 66  and had ovarian cancer stage 3 diagnosed last Jan.  (Had 6 chemo in total and the op to remove everything)  I had severe fatigue throughout the chemo and actually still have it - though now I am off all meds it is slowly getting better.  I thought it was a 'normal' reaction to chemo, so it will be interesting to see what other responders to your message say.  Chemo is horrible - but worth it in the long run!   I still have a rest after lunch each day and am wiped out by early evening.  But throughout I managed a walk every day as exercise and fresh air definitely help.  Good luck to your mother going through the chemo.  It will be worth it!

Spooks

Many thanks for your message - really appreciate it. Were you able to walk during your chemo?

I've just looked up my diary of that time.  I always walked every day but on days 1-3 it was just a v short one.  By day five I was walking at least 30 mins.  But we are all different.  I had the carboplatin but I also had 2 other chemo drugs in the mix and I have diabetes so the steroids hit me too.  Sorry, too much information, but the point is that we are all different and we all react differently.  I was told repeatedly to listen to my body (!) and do what felt right.  My husband always pushed me to walk with him every day and though I was often reluctant as I had absolutely no energy I always felt glad that I had done it.  It was not just the fresh air and oxygen, but hearing the birds and seeing life outside the house.  

I have to say, and I don't know if everyone else has this, but I was incredibly emotional.  I don't mean I was afraid I'd die or anything like that, just that beautiful music or a kindness or something I read would trigger an overwhelming surge of emotion!  A friend sent me a poem for example and I wept every time I read it as it was so touching!  But maybe that was just me!

Spooks

Hi Sm7 

my mum (77) gets really tired too. General rule is first week is too tired to do anything much, quite a bit better second week but still tired, anything you want to do (like lunch out or visiting) schedule in the third week and repeat! They can reduce the dose sometimes or defer a week. It’s worth making sure she’s not got anaemia as won’t help the fatigue / activity level and use chemo hotline if any fever or evidence of infection. I hope her quality of life improves soon. Getting help with boring things like cleaning/chores helps to conserve her energy for nice things too. 
best wishes