Can anyone relate to this?

[easyrun262]

Hi Friends- I may have a dumb question here. I'm not sure. Prior to being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, I was a very fit 55 year old male, running 50-60 miles per week, going to the gym 3x weekly, never sitting down long enough to watch TV- always active.

Today, after completing chemo and radiation 9 months ago, I remain very tired. My Oncologist feels the fatique comes from me being "deconditioned and no longer being fit". I want to return to my passion for running but I'm so tired all the time. I have the desire and the motivation to run but I always feel a need to rest. I continue to work daily. I continue to do chores around the house. I'm as active as most men my age but.... after doing a little bit, I'm fatiqued. I have been alert to the mental/emotional aspects of illness and feel I have a healthy outlook on this disease and how it has effected me and others. But....

Is it normal to feel fatiqued like this? Is this part of the disease? I welcome your input. Thanks... Tom

[conan1017]

Tom-

It actually sounds like you are doing well for stage 4 (my wife also has stage 4). From what I have read, those who rank well on the performance scale respond best to treatments, As for the fatigue, how are your blood labs? You could be mildly anemic and if so, that woulf certianly account for the fatigue. My wife gets gemzar which can affect the production of red blood cells, thus causing anemia and fatigue.

Also, you might aks your doctor about a steriod like decadron (works pretty good). One got up one morning only having had 3 1/2 hours of sleep and avery busy day ahead of me and I took a decadron myself (don't tell anyone and I was amazed at how good, but normal I felt.

However, I am just a private in this army and there are others here who know far more than I. But to answer your question, fatigue and anxiety will accompany stage 4. It took me about 10 weeks, but I finally talked my wife into trying an antidepressant (Lexipro) and it has really helped. I hope you can at some level return to some normal activites such as running. The disease seeks to rob you and your loved ones of more than any of us should conceed. So stay strong and keep the faith.

conan

[mabegb]

tom what you are experiencing is normal. it can take a long time to get the energy back. my pulmonoligist recently started having me riding a bike everyday for 30 minutes. he told me to keep my lungs good you need 30 minutes a day (keeping your heart rate up for that time) of excercise. some days it is hard but i noticed if i do it i have more energy. i also have stage 4 lung cancer. i require supplemental oxygen while i excercise. if you can get yourself to do it i bet it would help . start off slow and build up.
good luck.

[easyrun262]

Conan and Mabegb- Thank you kindly for your feedback. You both gave me some very good suggestions to ponder. I wish you and your family well. Thanks again... Tom

[Janmarie2]

Tom. Fatigue is sadly an all too common side effect from chemo. With Carboplatin and Taxol my mom was totally wiped out but her blood counts were usually pretty good so she was never very anemic that only happened with the Taxotere/ Gemzar for her.She would just start to get energy back and it would be time for more chemo . Despite it all she tried to live as normal a life as possible. Her second line agent was Iressa changed a month later to Tarceva which had just been released and suddenly she was the energizer bunny, no stopping her.The Alimta that followed that only caused a day or two of fatigue so she had about 14 months during 2nd line and 3rd line treatments where she felt great with lots of energy. People could not believe she had stage IV NSCLC: However, next came Taxotere and Gemzar and they did her in. Despite taking procrit and neupogen during this last one her blood counts were down more then they were up.

Her very first chemo was in July 2004 so her poor body has been through it all and now she has decided enough as the chemo would kill her before the cancer does. Oh by the way she is 82 now.

You sound like you have the fighting atitude which is what she had and that can take you far.My prayers go out to you and please ther are no dumb questions here. Ask anything you want. JanMarie