Today is 6 weeks post radiation for scc left tonsil and mets to 3 neck nodes. I had a tonsillectomy/radical neck 12/20/02. I thought if I could survive radiation I could do anything, now I am this tired zombie, spending most of the time snoozing on the couch with no ambition. The guilt is getting to me. I have returned to work for 2 days last week for 5 hours and did ok (pediatric office nurse)but when I'm home it's like I'm this blah blob of plasma with no energy. I am not eating much, using my PEG tube. I can finally swallow but still painful. I have got down some soup and fruit cocktail but only small bites and not really interested. Am I expecting to much to soon or should I push myself. I do have depression and have been on meds for years.
this lack of ambition does not feel like clinical depression to me but.... Pre cancer I was a gogogo
hyper person, not I am the opposite. How long does the tiredness last and why does it cause this extreme fatigue? I do go to PT once or twice a week.

51 year old with SCC of left tonsil with mets to 3 lymphs, 6 week radiation to both sides of neck
finished radiation March 5th, 2003