Once Susan Miller learned she had cancer, she and her husband, Steve, decided e-mail would be the best way to share their journey. With the Millers' permission, The Star brings to you 14 excerpts running daily through Aug. 26. A lot of her body's energy is obviously focused on the process of healing her lung tissue, the muscle and connective tissue around the ribs and the incision site. Pain, in and of itself, is tiring. Although Susan has been able to wean herself from most of the painkillers, she still cannot function without some level of pain relief.
Fatigue is also the primary side effect of radiation.
Radiation not only damages any cancer cells, it also damages healthy tissue. In response to the radiation, the body directs energy to the repair of the damaged cells. Commencing radiation only two weeks after lung surgery was very aggressive. Energy is being drained away both to heal from the lung surgery and at the same time to heal from the effects of daily radiation. Besides extreme fatigue, Susan has had absolutely no appetite.