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Brachytherapy and Fatigue - whats the deal?

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Posted 4/2/2009 11:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi folks

Having just signed up and searched the forum, I notice that some people have mentioned fatigue as a side effect of brachytherapy. I am interested to know:
- if you were extra tired following brachytherapy, how long did it last
- were there any things in particular that helped (there is an interesting article at http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/guide/prostate-cancer-dealing-fatigue although it seems a little generic)

I have just had implants (66 seeds, iodine-125, two stage procedure in UK, both under general anaesthetic, following not very painful biopsy - to summarise a few key issues I have seen dicussed elsewhere) and gone back to work two weeks later, but am still feeling very tired. So tired in fact I took a nap on my office floor the other day. Maybe I should bring a pillow and quilt to work !:-)

thanks in advance
guy
Posted 4/2/2009 11:42 AM (GMT 0)

Hello guy, and welcome to HW.  Re your question on fatigue after brachy:

1.  I was fortunate and did not personally experience any fatigue or tiredness after my procedure.  I was pretty much normal within a couple of days.

2.  When researching this treatment, however, I recall noting that fatigue after the procedure can occur in some patients.  The reasons for this include the stress of having PCa, lack of exercise pre and post treatment, stopping caffiene post treatment as well as the fact that generally radiation causes fatigue in the body.  The fatigue was more noticable among men who had additional radiation treatment along with the brachy.

3.  I recall that the literature states this usually goes away after a few weeks or a couple of months as the radiation dissipates in your system.

So, I guess I would suggest getting some exercise to build up your strength, drink a little coffee if your urinary system can tolerate it and not to worry too much about this unless it becomes too bad.  Then of course you should call your doc.

Hope this helps and I hope your recovery goes well.

Tudpock

Posted 4/2/2009 1:17 PM (GMT 0)

Tudpock18 said...
Hello guy, and welcome to HW. Re your question on fatigue after brachy:

1. I was fortunate and did not personally experience any fatigue or tiredness after my procedure. I was pretty much normal within a couple of days.

2. When researching this treatment, however, I recall noting that fatigue after the procedure can occur in some patients. The reasons for this include the stress of having PCa, lack of exercise pre and post treatment, stopping caffiene post treatment as well as the fact that generally radiation causes fatigue in the body. The fatigue was more noticable among men who had additional radiation treatment along with the brachy.

3. I recall that the literature states this usually goes away after a few weeks or a couple of months as the radiation dissipates in your system.

So, I guess I would suggest getting some exercise to build up your strength, drink a little coffee if your urinary system can tolerate it and not to worry too much about this unless it becomes too bad. Then of course you should call your doc.

Hope this helps and I hope your recovery goes well.

Tudpock

Thanks Tudpock

you're right about caffeine being a solution - I would normally have a cup of coffee to perk myself up, but not now - and it may even be part of the problem as I went decaff when I first started getting the urinary symptoms.

Exercise would also be good for mood and I am sure I have been putting on weight too (too much slobbing about at home!) - although my favourite form would be cycling and I have been warned off that for a couple of months.

As for the rest, I shall be taking it easy over the Easter vacation and hope things improve. Failing that, its back to the doc as you say.
Posted 4/2/2009 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
guy75,
My husband just had seed implant two weeks ago Friday. He also has Multiple Sclerosis. He hasn't had any fatigue that's unusual. It's hard to tell because MS can cause so much fatigue. In fact he seems a little "up".
Stress of the procedure and all the pre stuff you guys have to do can cause fatigue. Take care of yourself and my guess is this will all resolve itself soon.
Posted 4/28/2009 10:38 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks duckfan - here's hoping (and sorry for the late reply - I was too busy alternatively not resting and then crashed out!)
Posted 4/28/2009 12:35 PM (GMT 0)
guy,
while i did not have "seeding", I have been through 35 days of regular radiation for a previous cancer, and fatigue is the most common side effect. Mine didn't start up till about 3 months after the treatment ended, and then it hit me hard. took me about a year to get over the worse affects, and still 10 years later, I just don't have the endurance I previously did.
Posted 4/28/2009 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
Tudpock,
Did you find that certain food bothered you? I heard that you should stay away from raw veggies and fruit, also anything spicy. Any hints on diet during treatment?
JT
Posted 4/28/2009 4:49 PM (GMT 0)

Hi JT:

The only issues I had were with caffeine and VERY spicy foods.  For the first couple of months post-procedure, either of those caused me some urinary frequency.  But, it honestly wasn't a big deal.  I quit the caffeine and only satisfied my taste for spicy Mexican occasionally.  I have no issues now with any food (5 months post) and have not for some time.

Now that your prostate has shrunk, what is your timetable for seeds?

Tudpock

Posted 4/28/2009 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
Guy75

My husband did experience fatigue after Brachytherapy and it did knock him on his butt.  He has 91 stranded seeds.  He's usually a go-getter but he was literally forced to nap for a few weeks.  Rumour has it the body heals during sleep so don't deny yourself those naps.

Here's hoping all continues well for you on your road to recovery.

JustJulie

Posted 4/29/2009 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all those helpful ideas - much appreciated.

As for your comments JustJulie, one of my difficulties is that despite seeing myself as a go-getter too, I can also ALWAYS "sleep for England" as they say - sleep and dreams being so much fun! The difficulty comes in trying to judge what's necessary and where that tips over into luxury/indolence. But at the moment, I am trying to veer on the side of necessary and forget about all that go-getting stuff that needs to be got.
Posted 4/29/2009 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Tudpock,
I'm scheduled for seeds on May 19th, have to stick around for 2 weeks for the CT scan that verifies placement. Then I'm off to Idaho for 5 weeks before returning for 5 weeks of IMRT. Then back to Idaho for the rest of the summer, hopefully. I'm no looking forward to spending 5 weeks in July in Palm Springs.
JT
Posted 4/29/2009 5:25 PM (GMT 0)

JT, I'll mark my calendar for the 19th and will be thinking of you that day.  It should be a breeze and I know you will do great.  They wanted my CT scan 1 month post-procedure, then agreed to do it the day of the procedure because I was leaving for Florida 2 weeks after the procedure.  Of all things, the machine was broken that day, so I had the scan just before we left town.  We have had a great "season" in SW Florida and are now heading back to Northern Virginia for the summer.

Stay in touch,

Tudpock

Posted 6/9/2011 8:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi. I had my brachy treatment 6 weeks ago and initially found myself very fatigued. In chatting to the nursing staff about another issue they asked if I was drinking lots of water as advised - I hadn't been.

A little research online suggested drinking 2 litres (3.5 UK Pints/4.2 US Liquid pints) of water per day so I started that regime. I immediately found that the fatigue lessened and after a day or two I felt great. The theory is that because you have to pee so much you are flushing out lots of toxins - and it also keep the water works moving! Talking to friends with other cancers it seems this regime also helps them.

Hope this helps.
Posted 6/9/2011 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
i had pretty major SEs after implants including fatigue but i was also on lupron and flomax.  i remember that prior to seeds i was still riding my bike several times a week but quit about a week after BT. that was a big turning point for me in term of SEs.

 about six weeks later i had IGRT so there were even more SEs.  i remember thinking before i started IGRT that i was just starting to feel better.

i went through a lot of treatment but i'd have to say the month or so after BT was the toughest period.

ed

 

Posted 6/10/2011 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
I had 73 Cesium seeds implanted 7 weeks ago. I felt slight fatigue after a week or so but not too bad. I chose to continue with coffee and didn't have a problem but had to cut out diet Cokes because of strong urges to urinate frequently. I am not a big exerciser but took walks every night which might have helped. I have just started IMRT so may have fatigue later, I don't know.

Joe
Posted 6/10/2011 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
I did the trifecta.... IMRT, HDR brachytherapy, and ADT2. Good news is that I had absolutely no fatigue during the three months of IMRT and HDR. I went to a meatless diet, lots of water, green tea and V8 juice, lots of green vegetabes and salads, and Snuffy Meyers advice on supplements....also stepped up exercise.

However, now that I am on eight months of ADT2, my metabolism has slowed to a lethargy that is bothersome. I am trying to counteract it with appropriate exercise and diet, but moving has slowed down. I feel like I have to push with everything I do. Part of it is the weight gain I have experienced. So the radiation didn't induce fatigue, but the HT sure has.
Posted 9/22/2015 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
I have developed Chronic Fatigue now lasting 16 months. I had 79 paladium seeds implanted May 29, 2014. Normal fatigue and weakness followed immediately and I was bedfast and out of work six months. I returned to my Urologists and they said it was unusual, and I should excercise, eat well, drink water, etc. etc.

At 12 months of being out of work and fatigued and bed fast, I sought help with my family doctor. After blood tests for thyroid (which half of mine has been removed) sugar, etc., he then ordered pulmonary tests, chest x-rays, heart scan, nuclear scans, and a brain scan. Nothing is unusual.

Incidentally, I can not Go To Sleep--laying still and dark until the sun shines through the windows. We try a sleep study Sept. 24 for Apnea. I failed an earlier one because I never went to sleep--even aftere one Ambien. (I failed a sleep test because I could not sleep. Cost $6,000 so this time I've ordered Nurses unlimited availability to sleep meds.)

I think I get Plenty of oxygen to my muscles but I don't think they can absorb it. I'm thinking Fibromyalgia (sic) ? Getting desparate--out of work 16 months now. Any excercise raises my pulse to over 150 and blood pressure to 175/130--had to visit Emergeny Room Once.
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