The side effects of cancer treatment vary based on the treatments used and how each person responds to them. For example, some people experience hair loss, while others do not; some people experience nausea and vomiting, while others do not, etc. There is one side effect, however, that many cancer patients and cancer survivors experience: fatigue. It is the most common side effect of cancer treatment both during and after cancer treatment.
What is Fatigue?
When healthy people say they feel fatigued, they’re usually referring to feeling tired because they haven’t slept enough. Relief is typically found by taking a nap or getting a full night of restful sleep.
When cancer patients and survivors describe feeling fatigued, they also usually mean they feel tired. However, it goes beyond tired. Cancer-related fatigue usually includes feeling slow, weak, exhausted, and simply feeling a lack of physical and mental energy. Unlike fatigue that healthy individuals experience, fatigue that cancer patients and survivors experience usually doesn’t disappear after sleep or rest. Some cancer survivors experience cancer-related fatigue at some level for months or even years after their cancer treatment ends.
Should You Be Concerned About Feeling Fatigued?
When you’ve survived cancer you have been through a lot, both physically and emotionally. Compared to the other cancer-related side-effect you have endured, you may consider fatigue to be a nuisance but not anything you need to really worry about.
Actually, fatigue that remains untreated can have a huge impact on your quality of life. After completing your cancer treatment, you may be anxious to get back to your pre-cancer activities. When you feel fatigued, you’re not able to do the things you want to do. Fatigue may cause you to:
- Miss work
- Skip social events
- Avoid exercise
- Avoid friends
- Put off doing necessary tasks like cleaning your house, buying groceries, etc.
- Spend more time in bed
- Experience mood changes
- Feel depressed and/or hopeless
In other words, fatigue can prevent you from enjoying the fulfilling, post-cancer lifestyle you desire and deserve.
Treatment Options for Cancer-related Fatigue
Be sure to review with your doctor any other medical issues that could be contributing to your fatigue such as anemia, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid dysfunction, pain, sleep disorders, heart or lung disease and medication side effects.
Evidence-based interventions to help alleviate symptoms include:
- Working with your care team to come up with a light exercise regimen you can tolerate despite your low energy
- Getting into a regular sleep routine including sticking to a consistent bedtime and wake time, limiting daytime naps, limiting caffeine, and avoiding distractions in the bedroom such as the TV, phone, computer, etc.
- Consider acupuncture, massage, and yoga
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and ensure adequate hydration
If you are struggling with treatment-related fatigue, make an appointment with our survivorship providers to discuss management strategies specifically for you.
