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Begin 2nd week of rad for MET-Is it possible fatigue is setting in this quickly

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Posted 8/2/2010 12:12 PM (GMT 0)
Today I am beginning my 2nd week of radiation for the MET found on my leg at the hip joint. I am receiving 30Gy over 10 treatments, that's 3Gy per day. I have completed 4 treatments so far.

When I received rad for IMRT, I received 70Gy, over 35 days, 2Gy per day. By about the 4th week I was beginning to feel fatigue in the afternoons.

This weekend I felt like I did not have the energy to do anything. Saturday and Sunday I slept late (which is rare for me) and both days felt the need for long (2-3 hours) naps by afternoon.

Is there anybody here that has received MET radiation and has any experience with this. I would have expected the fatigue with IMRT, as they were radiating the prostate bed and very near many of my other organs. This met rad is confined to just the hip area, no organs in the path, and the fatigue is something I did not expect.

Just looking for a little info,

Sonny
Posted 8/2/2010 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
Sonny, I really dont know the answer to your question, but given this is your second round of radiation I would think that it is quite possible. You certainly bounced back quicker than I did from your IMRT. Hope this passes quickly and if need be take a power nap or two.

Michael

Posted 8/2/2010 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
Sonny,

There's not a doubt in my mind that your fatigue is directily connected to your ongoing radiation treatments. Doesn't matter if they are zapping your head or your foot, it still has the same toxic effect on the body. 3 gys a day is a lot of radiation, and there are many patients, myself included, that could not tolerate that much at one time. Plus, you are still not over all the effects of the 70 gys you have already received, even at 2 gys a day. The 2 gys a day is in the range that most people can tolerated, but sometimes they even have to back that off.

All that tireness and napping and sleeping late, your body is crying out for that rest. Don't fight it, at least while you are finishing up this week. Also, don't expect it to immediately end the day you get your last treatment.

Radiation is hell on the human body. I think some folk underestimate its destructive nature. Good luck as you finish out this week. Hopefully you won't need to go through that again. You will have underwent 100 gys of radiation in a fairly short time, that is a whole bunch on the human body..

David in SC
Posted 8/2/2010 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sonny,

Sorry to hear that you are having some negative side effects from the radiation. You are getting a fairly high amount of Gys in quite a short time and it is a little harder on your body than anticipated. I know that you can handle these last few sessions to fight the cancer. Just get as much rest as you can. Hopefully the RT will be successful and that you get back to normal soon.

All the best to you.

Mag

Posted 8/2/2010 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sonny, I can't comment on the rad and napping, but your sleeping and nap schedule is pretty much what mine has been this weekend, and I'm not getting zapped the way you are. You've always seemed to me to be the energizer bunny of this group. All this rad seems to be doing is knocking you back to my normal. And, as a consummate afternoon napper for many years --- even in my 30s I had a couch in my office so I could sleep for 30/45 minutes after lunch --- I can tell you the trick is to enjoy your naps best you can.


Zzzzzzzzzzzz .......


Sheldon AKA Sleepless
Posted 8/2/2010 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
Sonny, fatigue seems to be always associated with radiation. I think that is probably the case for you. I'm sorry that ti came on so quickly and hope that it also goes away quickly once you are done.
Posted 8/2/2010 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
Sonny, fatigue seems to be always associated with radiation. I think that is probably the case for you. I'm sorry that ti came on so quickly and hope that it also goes away quickly once you are done.
Posted 8/2/2010 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Radiation is different for every patient. Also where they are radiating makes a difference too. Prostate is one area where the side effects are low. I have seen guys being radiated elsewhere have a good amount of them. Two weeks seems kinda early for fatigue, but it is possible...

I can only re-iterate how I battled fatigue while being treated with ART. I was on the table at 7:15 in the morning. Back home by 8:00. I would walk 3 miles (about 50 minutes). Shower and be at my desk by 9:00 working. I was very lucky to be with an employer that allowed me whatever time I needed. Not bad because I started working for them BEFORE my radiation therapy began.

I only had slight fatigue that I never noticed happening until a few weeks after I stopped therapy and noticed improving energy.

Tony
Posted 8/2/2010 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
Sonny, It could be the radiation or possibly tired for all your traveling. Who knows. Take care my brother.

Cajun jeff
Posted 8/3/2010 4:49 AM (GMT 0)
Sonny,
I am still dragging badly six weeks after the end of IGRT.
My Rad. Oncologist swears it has nothing to to with radiation, but my GP is at odds. He observes that all the blood flowing through the area being treated is also being zapped, which lowers red and white blood cell counts (mine are at 50-60% of a blood test before DaVinci). This in theory has a system-wide impact for as long as a year after radiation of any sort.
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