Hi there a relative of mine was recently diagnosed with myxofibrosarcoma, they had 5 weeks of radiotherapy which unfortunately did not work, they then had 3 weeks high intensity radiotherapy crammed in to 1 week and they are feeling really miserable, constantly sleeping, in bed about 23 hours a day and not eating at all, I'm just wondering is this normal? None of us have ever been through anything like this before. The person is over 70 also. Any help would be very much appreciated
Hi Natlouise
I am sorry to hear that your relative has had a diagnosis of myxofibrosarcoma and that the radiotherapy has not worked as hoped.
My own cancer was different so I hope that it is ok to reply but I did have intensive radiotherapy for my endometrial carcinoma sarcoma and did find that I had a lot of fatigue during and after treatment. It was something that I was warned about by my radiotherapy consultant. For the first couple of months after radiotherapy it is still working in the body and this can lead to further fatigue. I did find that I wanted to sleep a lot.
Is your relative able to contact their cancer nurse specialist or radiotherapy team at the hospital? I was told that any time after treatment, that if I was still having effects or if I needed advice to email the radiotherapy team. Another option would be for your relative to contact their GP to be checked over. It may be worth them doing this as although some fatigue is normal, if they are not eating and feeling particularly miserable than it is worth asking for support.
Another thing that may be worth asking about is whether they would be due for routine bloods to be done. I needed a blood transfusion during radiotherapy and this was for low haemoglobin- I felt very fatigued before this and a lot brighter within a couple of days of the transfusion.
We do have a Support Line available and if it would help do give it a call and speak with one of the nurses who may be able to make other suggestions.
Jane
