Cancer-related fatigue is often a commonly reported side effect of cancer treatment. It’s unlike normal tiredness where a person gets energized after a good sleep. For people undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment, this feeling of fatigue doesn’t go away even after taking rest. Even normal daily activities such as doing household chores, getting ready, or having a conversation can seem to be draining their energy. To combat this vague feeling of exhaustion, it is important to understand the reason why it happens and ways to deal with it.
Understanding cancer-related fatigue
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a deep sense of tiredness or exhaustion in a person suffering from cancer. This feeling affects them at the physical, mental, and emotional level. There are some evident reasons why CRF hits cancer patients. Some of the main reasons include:
• The disease, cancer, itself
• Various cancer treatments (e.g. chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and surgery)
• Chronic pain
• Anemia
• Emotional stress (e.g. feeling anxious, depressed, or distressed)
• Having sleep problems (e.g. sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome)
• Inadequate nutrition due to mouth sores, nausea, difficulty in swallowing, changes in taste, etc.
• Changes in activity level (less physical exercise)
• Hormonal changes in the body
Symptoms of cancer-related fatigue
The most common symptoms exhibited by cancer patients due to cancer-related fatigue are mentioned below:
• Tiredness that doesn’t get better with sleep or rest
• Feeling more tired than usual during or after completing any activity or work
• Hands and legs seem too heavy to move
• No energy to do anything
• Feeling cranky, sad, or frustrated
• Feeling enervated (very weak)
• Inability to concentrate or focus your thoughts
• Having trouble sleeping
When to worry about cancer-related fatigue
If cancer-related fatigue interferes with performing your daily activities, it should be a cause for concern. Fatigue that doesn’t get better despite taking proper rest and sleep should be treated as alarming and should be notified to your healthcare provider immediately. To know the exact cause of the fatigue, you might be asked a few questions. Once there is a known clear cause, your healthcare team can work towards addressing it and mitigating its ill effects.
Ways to ease off cancer-related fatigue
1. Lifestyle adjustments: Set aside a certain portion of your day to rest and relax. By taking short naps throughout the day, you can preserve your energy. Go easy on yourself by setting realistic goals and avoid unnecessary stress.
2. Preserve your energy: Work in an organized manner. Prepare a list of the most important activities for the day and get them done when you feel your energy levels are most high. By adding nutritious food to your diet and staying adequately hydrated, you can keep your energy up. However, if you are having nausea and vomiting, consult your healthcare provider immediately.
3. Stay active: Some examples of moderate exercise include walking, swimming, or riding a bicycle. These activities may provide some relief from cancer-related fatigue. If you are soon to begin your cancer treatment, getting in the habit of exercising regularly may help prevent cancer-related fatigue later on.
4. Medications: If pain or anemia is causing the fatigue, talk to your healthcare provider who can start you off on some pain management medications (analgesics) or prescribe some medicines or supplements that can make your body produce more red blood cells to deal with anemia.
Cancer-related fatigue varies from person to person but the good news is that it can be effectively managed. By understanding its root causes and taking adequate measures such as lifestyle modifications, medications, etc. cancer patients and their caregiving team can collaborate together to take meaningful steps towards enhancing energy levels and improving the overall quality of life of cancer patients. Remember, there are no quick fix solutions—it’s all about taking small, meaningful steps towards understanding what your body needs.