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Breast Cancer/fatigue after breast radiation

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Expert: - 9/5/2006


Question
I had DCIS with lumpectomy and further surgery for better borders and 16 radiation treatments ending in March and am taking tamoxifen - I have not regained my energy and am very fatigued - probably operate at 70% of my pre-cancer energy level - is this normal - what can I do.

Answer
No one goes through cancer diagnosis & treatment unmarked. In your case a combination of surgery (2 operations), radiation therapy & anti hormonal therapy (Tamoxifen). Each of them has side effects including - like the diagnosis itself - psychological. What is psychological and what is physiological is impossible to say in a case like yours. I'm not surprised that you feel like this. Hopefully it will get better with time. Apart from that there is not much you can do unfortunately.

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Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.

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I`m a doctor of medicine and a specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have long experience in diagnostics and treatment of breast tumours.

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I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy educated & trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps.You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 I have no restrictions on the number of questions there.

I also answer questions about Oncology (General Cancer), General History, Military History, Brain Tumors, Colon Cancer

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I'm a medical doctor and specialist in medical oncology and radiation therapy.

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