Just wondering if anybody went through symptoms...I constantly have chills...zero energy...I feel worst than I've ever felt..is it normal to feel this way 4 months after treatment...any input would help..thanks

Im so sorry you are struggling! Unfortunately yes this can be all part of the recovery process. A complete recovery can take all of 2 full years after finishing treatments.

The very best thing I can advise you is to focus on what is controllable. That is your nutrition. Every single day strive to take in a minimum of 2500 calories and 48 oz of water. Recovery can zap all your energy quickly and your body requires alot more calories to rebuild itself.

Have you been back to your family doctor for a full blood workup? Maybe your thyroid has been damaged by the radiation and you need some help with medication. Also you could be anemic or picking up some kind of bug. Never know what is causing your chills and lack of stamina so get checked out by your family doc or your ENT if thats who oversees your care. Hopefully you will begin to feel better soon.

Good luck!!!!

Thanks for the reply Christine...yes..i have had blood work ..they saw a little infection in the white cells...i'm going to see my ENT tomorrow...I have pain that runs down my cheek and runs through my jaw and down my neck...very scary...the pain in my cheek has been there for a few months now...had a clear scan..the whole cheek is hurting...could a scan miss something ? I asked my ENT to do a biopsie just to be on the safe side...he said..what do you want me to do a biopsy on...there is no lump...i'm very frustrated...and now that i'm feeling worst than ever...

Get the thyroid checked. Exactly my symptoms and exactly 4 months post Tx for me also. My thyroid had been damaged and I now take a tiny pill once a day.

Getting enough nutrition, hydration, sleep, rest, doing light exercises may help, and monitoring blood levels for any deficiencies, as mentioned, including testosterone, B12, D, Creatinine, Hemaglobin, Glucose levels. Good luck.

Wondering why some places allow radiation more than once and my oncologist told me that you can only do it once...no matter what ? why is that ?

There are many variables to why some are able to do rads more than once. Location of tumor, time between recurrences, amount of grays, etc are only a few of the things that can make it an option for another round. Of course its also very individualized and depends on the person.

I had radiation 3x in the same area, and going for my 4th in two weeks. I think that will be a total of 150Gy I had, but the High Dose IORT I'm having at 15Gy, is equivalent to 3-4x that amount in IMRT, so will be like doing 4 weeks of radiation at once, and equivalent to 210Gy total, but I have one of the best radiation oncologists in the country, and patients come from around the world to see him.

Reirridation depends on many factors, the radiation oncologist experience, amount of prior radiation, type of radiation, location of tumor, size of tumor, toxicity level of nearby structures are some.

The best person to ask is the radiation oncologist, not the medical oncologist.

I know of 6 people (including Paul) off the top of my head who have been thru rads 3 times. Not sure how many 2 timers I know but Im sure its several. It can be done but not for every patient. Those 3 timers mostly have quite a few life altering issues that have gone along with their 3 rounds of rads. Definitely not an easy road at all but every single one of the 3 timers knows how fortunate they are to still be here and they do not ever complain about those side effects.

Sorry you're suffering, Survivor. I hope that you won't need another round of radiation! Did you talk to your doc today about the thyroid problem Christine and David mentioned? It sure seems like a possibility.