Coping With Cancer Fatigue

What is cancer fatigue?

Fatigue is more than being tired, it is being exhausted and lacking energy. It is very common in people with cancer, with almost 80% to 100% of people reported experiencing fatigue. It can last for weeks to years, even after cancer treatment ends.

Fatigue occurs for a few different reasons. It may be caused by cancer treatments like radiation therapy or chemotherapy. It may also occur from weakness caused by:

• Recovery from surgery
• Low blood counts or low electrolyte levels
• Changes in hormones levels
• Infection from a compromised immune system

What can I do about my fatigue?

First, talk to your doctor about your fatigue and what you can do to help alleviate the fatigue you are experiencing. Make sure to put your health first and prioritize your rest.

Here are some suggestions to help you manage fatigue:

• Stay lightly active with activities like walking, stretching, or yoga
• Relax and sleep when you need by taking naps
• Keep a healthy diet
• Do your best to rest for 7-8 hours a night and practice good sleeping habits
• Engage in a meditation or mindfulness practice to help relax your mind
• Get a massage to improve your sleep
• Invest time in counseling and therapy to help manage your mental health

What can my caregivers do to support me?

Your caregivers are there to support you and there are various ways they can help you by:

• Ensuring you are not pushing past your limits and getting proper rest
• Helping you with your daily routine
• Arranging for friends and family to do tasks around the house, such as cooking, cleaning, running errands, and other chores

When should I talk to my doctor about my fatigue? 

You should always talk to your doctor about the side effects you are feeling. Specifically, you may want to reach out to your cancer care team if the fatigue causes you to:

• Stay in bed for over 24 hours or have major difficulty getting out of bed
• Feel extremely weak
• Feel confused and dizzy or lose your balance and fall
• Have issues catching your breath
• Not be able to complete your daily routine, or engage in social life or work

You also may want to talk to your healthcare team about your fatigue to understand what you can expect. Here are some questions you can ask:

• What might be causing my fatigue?
• What should I keep note of?
• What plan should we make to make me feel better?
• What types of exercise should I do? What works best for me?
• How much sleep should I get during the day or at night?
• What should I eat and drink?
• Are there any treatments that can make me feel better?

It’s important to discuss any concerns you may have about your fatigue with your healthcare team. Cancer may be a scary situation to deal with, but taking care of yourself and tackling it in the ways you can control may help fortify you throughout the cancer treatment process.