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#36074 10-30-2002 12:14 AM
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Hi group,

To those of you who are 1+ years post-treatment, did any of suffer from extreme fatigue? Having gone through cancer and it's treatments with my husband, I've witnessed the fatigue of radiation and chemo. But my mother seems to be "more fatigued" than what seems usual with the treatments. And what bothers me is that it is affecting decisions she needs to make about further treatments. She is scheduled for her neck dissection next week. Despite my passing along the group's experiences about the dissections and the fact that it's probably easier than the radiation, she is looking at it as a "step backwards" in terms of something else to recover from. I suggested she look at it as a "step forward" in terms of being sure that all the cancer is being removed.

Now, I know there are two things contributing to her fatigue. I'm sure one is "psychological" and at her age, I can't change the way she looks at things. However, the second thing is that she is anemic. I've done some reading on this and it's apparent that this is affecting her fatigue level. She started with Procrit shots after her chemo then was switched to Aranesp, which only requires a shot every two weeks. However, her hemoglobin has only gone from 9.7 to 10.8 in two months. They say that it should be in the 12-14
range.

Have any of had problems with anemia and what did you do to combat this? Do you feel it is inappropriate for me to raise these questions to the doctor? I just feel that if she felt better, her attitude and approach do this would greatly improve.

Thanks in advance for your insight.

Cynthia

#36075 10-30-2002 02:36 AM
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Morning Cythia,

I'm sorry I can't asswer all your questions about fatique - I finished my radiation Jan. 25th and just took my first chemo last week...so I will be real interested in the answers. My doctor's visit today I am asking about being tired so quickly after the first treatment.
The reason I jumped in and felt I had to post - was because I REALLY feel it isn't inapproriate for you to ask the doctor!!!! Take it from someone who wishes she would have read more and asked more.

ASK AWAY, please.
Take care, you and your Mom are so strong.
Dinah

#36076 10-30-2002 08:22 AM
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Cynthia S,

Just got back from the "blood work" trip - we discussed being tired...they gave me an injection of a new drug (similar to Procrit) it's called Aranesp...and is administered every 2 weeks instead of weekly. It works on the red blood cells.

Hope this helps,
Dinah


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