Home → Treatment & Side Effects → Planning Your Treatment → Ask-the-Expert Conferences: Treatment Issues → May 2008: After Surgery: Short-term and Long-term Effects → Fatigue a long-term effect of surgery?

Fatigue long-term effect of surgery?

Page last modified on: August 21, 2008

Question from BLoth: I had seven surgeries for breast cancer. I didn't have any infections or problems, but I still get very tired. Last surgery was 2/07 and last chemo was 12/05. Is tiredness is a long-term effect from the surgeries and treatments? I exercise regularly, eat a well-balanced diet, and take vitamins and supplements as directed by my nutritionist, who is an M.D.: Answers —Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S.: We shouldn't underestimate the degree of long-term effects of surgery. For many women, especially after multiple surgeries and chemotherapy, fatigue is an issue even years later. One important point would be to try to discern between treatment fatigue related to surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, and lack of energy that may be more emotional or related to depression or more psychological issues. Sitting and talking with your medical oncologist may shed some light on the fatigue as well as evaluation using blood work and other tools or tests.; Linda Miller, P.T.: There's a lot of evidence that suggests that fatigue is the number one complaint of cancer patients. This fatigue can last for years following chemotherapy. The current research suggests that exercise, which is what you're doing now, is probably one of the best ways to combat cancer fatigue. As Dr. Brill said, blood levels are affected by chemotherapy and may take months to return to a close to normal baseline.

On Wednesday, May 21, 2008, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called After Surgery: Short-term and Long-term Effects. Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. and Linda Miller, P.T. answered your questions about short-term and long-term side effects of breast surgery, and what you can do about them.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon and clinical instructor at the Thomas Jefferson University Department of Surgery in Philadelphia, PA. She also maintains a practice in Cherry Hill, N.J. Dr. Brill is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. In addition, she has published breast cancer research in medical journals such as Annals of Plastic Surgery and Cancer, and she has presented research at the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Linda Miller, P.T. is the clinical director of the Breast Cancer Physical Therapy Center, LTD, a private practice serving the Philadelphia, PA and southern New Jersey areas. Linda specializes in treating post-operative complications of breast cancer surgery, including lymphedema.