Off Chemo since Aug. 2003 and still too tired to work.?

Question

The cancer started in the fall of 2001. After many surgeries to remove the cancer, the cancer metastized and I got 6 cycles of MVAC Chemo. It'll be 3 years cancer free but I'm too tired to do my old job as a carpenter. Actually, I'm too tired to do anything physical. If I do, I have to sleep all day the next day.

I'm a 57 year old married man and need some way to make money to help pay our bills. No get rich quick schemes. Just a lawful way to make some money!

Yes, I am under the care of an Oncologist in Boston, MA. I have been going for tests every three months and my port flush every month.

The company I worked for does not have that job.

Thanks, MM

My Oncologist tells me he has no idea. When we ask him if the pain killers I'm taking for the damage to my left sacrum has any part of my fatigue, it's the same answer, I don't know.

My PCP has told me it's probably a combination of the MVAC and the pain killers but has no idea how to help me. He thinks my Oncologist won't admit that it could be the damage the Chemo has done to my body because he's afraid of legal action by me. That could be! No matter what, there's no help for someone like me.

All this time I have spent lots of time with my new hobby, computers. I just don't know how to start to make money with it.

Thanks, MM

I never said I would sue my Oncologist. He saved my life. That's the last thing I want to do.

Before the cancer metastized I weighed 168 lbs. After a few cycles of chemo my weight went down to 128 lbs. I couldn't climb the stairs to my house.

My nurse recommended walking. My wife is a health nut and walks marathons and 7 -10 miles a day. After she walked her 7 miles, she would come home and take me for a mile. I graduated to 2 miles. The trouble was, after walking, I would fall asleep for 2-3 hours. It seemed to be a waste of my time. I decided it was better to be tired than sleeping hours after the walk.

Her being a health nut, my meals are always healthful. The only sugar I get is from the 100% juice I mix with water.

For you to have 9 months of chemo and work, you don't know what it's like to have MVAC for chemo!
It's rarely used and never as long as what they gave me. The only reason they used it was that or throw in the towel. I was not ready to do that!

Answer 1

March of 2006, I went in for minor surgery. Basic hysterectomy because of a fibroid tumor.
Always felt great, ate healthy (vegetarian), worked out, very normal lifestyle.
During surgery, they found Ovarian Cancer, so I was operated on for 8 hours with 4 blood transfusions and the end result ended with 4 months of Chemo every three weeks for 8 hours each session.
I am now one year out of my Chemo and actually feel wonderful...

I really think everything depends on they type of Chemotherapy you had. The intense effect it had on the inside of your body and it's after effects. We must understand the this is poison going into our bodies, so it destroys many things over a period of time.
Each person is different and each person responds differently to the infusions.

I highly suggest that your doctor does a complete blood work on you...... a very through one.
I just recently found out that because of the Chemo, it caused my thyroid to get out of wak and that's why I was having such a diffucult time getting rid of these extra pounds from the steroids which were used along with the chemo.
I'm now on Synthroid for the past month and have dropped 11 pounds and very happy.

Please talk with your doctor... tell him you want some testing done on your thyroid (this can cause constant tiredness)...
What about your sugar levels?? Have them check out your metabolisim also...

I take a lot of natural herbs and spices and have for years, even more since the cancer.
A few that will give you some natural energy are Ginger, Cinnamon and Cayanne (pepper). You can get these all in capsual form and I recommend 3 of each daily... Make sure you take with food..

I wish you the very best and please follow through with the doctors appointments :)

Answer 2

Have been thru breast cancer and know that the treatments can cause fatigue. My oncologist said it can take up to two years after chemo treatments to recover. A lot depends on the dose and think some people are more susceptible than others. I was on Tamoxifen 5 years and now on Femara for the next two at least. Fatigue is a side effect of both. And now have high blood pressure from Femara. The thing to remember is that you are alive. Fatigue has just become part of my life and for now it beats the alternative. Try to get something part time. I had to cut back on my hours even with an office job. Good Luck ......

Answer 3

I went through 10 months of high dose ara-c in something like 6 cycles a couple years ago. I felt so tired and so exhausted, but in order to keep a roof over my head I had to work. I started working about 14 months after my last treatment. Basically I just forced my self to do it. I felt like the worst crap in the world for about 8 weeks, and then even after that I was still exhausted at the end of the day coming home to crash and not wake up til the next morning. I had to quit 7 months after I started because of relapse, it had started to get a lil better but I was still very tired and going to bed early.

You are just gonna have to get out there and go through a few weeks of feeling horrible. The more you get used to having physical activity every single day, even when you're tired the better it will get.

One thing you could do from home could be like ebay if you are into that.

Answer 4

Before you took the chemo you had to give your consent and you agreed to the treatments. The papers you signed explained to you the side effect of the chemo as well. You can't sue your doctor for that. I had chemo therapy for 9 months and worked through the whole ordeal. I didn't even miss one day of work. I think you should start getting on a daily walking schedule and you will slowly increase your energy level. Also, cut our all sugary foods and eat a healthy diet. You should be getting your energy level back and maybe start working part time. The more you sleep, the weaker you get. You can do it.

Answer 5

Congratulations on being cancer free for so long. That is great news.

I'm afraid I don't have any suggestions on jobs for disabled carpenters. That's a tough one.

You are certainly not back to your old life. It is possible that your fatigue is from late effects from the drugs. Heart damage is not uncommon with Adriamycin, which is one of the drugs in M-VAC. If that is the case then a cardiologist might be able to help you regain some stamina.

That is grasping at straws a little, but it might be worth discussing with your doctor.

Best of luck,

MM

Answer 6

I had uterine cancer. After it I was fatigued, like that. It was my Fibromyalgia coming back.

I was told that it is not unusual for people to get Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue after operations or treatment like chemo.

If you have that, and it does happen to some men, you have the alternatives of:
1) Looking into alternative, less taxing jobs. The local community college can be a good resource in this area, to test you & give ideas for short (18-month) programs to re-train you. You can get a certificate in something that requires less physical exertion.
2) Ask for Vocational Rehabilitation help from the state.
3) Check on a disability retirement from your employer or union, if you had one.
4) Check online for ideas from the Chronic Fatigue websites.

Answer 7

Try getting a job that allows you to work from home. Even inquire with your current company about any jobs available that are less strenuous on your body; filing , payroll, dues, anything that keeps you paid but not exhausted.

Answer 8

Do you have any drafting skills? If so, you might consider doing some freelance work for an architect firm.

Answer 9

I would think that you are still under the care of your oncologist. Please call them and talk with them about this.