| | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 142 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP  Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 142 | I just finished week 1 and I am stunned by how tired I am. When I asked if this could the radiation I was given the standard answer "Everyone is Different". Any opinions? I am getting plenty of sleep and I am still able to eat although
my appetite is waning. I know I need to eat while I can and I am.
Also, what is it with these panic attacks. Never ever in my life have I had anything like this. The Xanax works but with everything else if I take one I am going to sleep. If I don't take one I start crying and don't stop for an hour. I know I had cancer, going with the positive, but I just don't understand.
55 12/17/09 High Grade Muceopidermoid Carcinoma Alerted by Largo my Mini Schnauzer
1/18/10 Clr PET
1/27/10 Surgery found Perineural invasion
3/22/10 Began Rad
05/05/10 34 rads
8/19/10 Clr Pet Scan
12/13/10 Clr Ultra sound/biopsy
5/4/11 MRI Clear
8/2/11 All Clear
5/25/12 All Clear
6/3/2016 All Clear
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 | Seda,
As you move through treatment you will find you will need more and more rest. Feeling tired right out of the gate is not that unusual and your anxiety is probably taking as much a toll on you as the treatments themselves.
I checked the prescription my GP gave me and low and behold it was Zanax.. He let me know that I would be having the same moments you are having. He gave me an Rx at 25 mg. He told me to take one when I felt the need and two if one was not cutting it.
I don�t know what your dosage level is but you might want to consider taking less more often if your pills are 50 mg.. You can cut the pill in half. This might help with the anxiety while not putting you to sleep.
Kelly
Male
48, SCC (Soft Palet) Rt.,
Stage 1, T3n0m0,
Dx, 8-09, Start IMRT 35 9-2-09 end 10-21-09
04-20-10 NED
8-11 recurrence, node rt. neck N2b
10-11 33 IMRT w/chemo wkly
3-12-12 PET - residual cancer
4-12 5 treatments with Cyberknife & Erbitux
6-19-12 Pet scan CLEAR
12-3-12 PET - CLEAR
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 142 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 142 | Thank you I was begining to think that I was losing hold on my sanity. I am very much used to being in control and I am known for "fixing" problems. So this has been a real lesson for me.
I checked and I have the 50 mg Zanax and it says I can take a half. But when I feel the panic coming on I am afraid not to stop it then and there. I actually have ended up on the floor cying. I will try 1/2 next time and see what happens. Again thanks for the info.
55 12/17/09 High Grade Muceopidermoid Carcinoma Alerted by Largo my Mini Schnauzer
1/18/10 Clr PET
1/27/10 Surgery found Perineural invasion
3/22/10 Began Rad
05/05/10 34 rads
8/19/10 Clr Pet Scan
12/13/10 Clr Ultra sound/biopsy
5/4/11 MRI Clear
8/2/11 All Clear
5/25/12 All Clear
6/3/2016 All Clear
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | I have always maintained (of course without any scientific evidence) that the mental aspect of our cancer is at least 50% of our battle and you may well be feeling tired as a result of your mind working overtime in the background.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 | Seda,
Cancer related fatigue is a real thing and can affect you for a long time after treatment. During treatment the only thing you can do is get plenty of rest. Do whatever works for you in dealing with the panic/anxiety part of things and really don't take anything off the table there. I believe that a cancer patient should have and use any tool available to them to make it through treatment.
Best Wishes and keep that chin up!
Eric
Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | As I just learned in the last week. I have been taking .25 of xanax since 1996 or 1997/ The .50 took control and that I don't want. I like to be in control of it and not it me. I take it to relax my esophagus which helps the pain back off from the surgery there.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 | Seda, you might ask your doc about Ativan. I believe it comes with less of a kick than Xanax but yet deals effectively with anxiety. I have some that I take sometimes at night to help me relax into sleep, so that may nix it for you. But worth a quick query I think.
David 2
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 15 years all clear in 6/24 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 142 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 142 | I will check on that. I decided to try a different approach this morning,I got up at 6 AM and took 1/2 a Xanax. I had my stepson drive me to 9:30 treatment. By time I got home the Xanax was begining to wear off and I am at work. A bit tired but here.
10 Down and 20 to go.
55 12/17/09 High Grade Muceopidermoid Carcinoma Alerted by Largo my Mini Schnauzer
1/18/10 Clr PET
1/27/10 Surgery found Perineural invasion
3/22/10 Began Rad
05/05/10 34 rads
8/19/10 Clr Pet Scan
12/13/10 Clr Ultra sound/biopsy
5/4/11 MRI Clear
8/2/11 All Clear
5/25/12 All Clear
6/3/2016 All Clear
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