These tips to fight cancer fatigue will help you manage your energy levels during cancer treatments and after you are in remission.
Where Cancer Fatigue Comes From
While the cancer itself can be a very draining disease, the truth is that cancer fatigue is primarily caused by the cancer treatments. The medications you will be given or are being given are very powerful. As a result, they are not only going to kill off the cancer cells, but also any other cells which might be in the way. This causes your body to be attacked from a number of directions, all at the same time. And it’s no wonder that you feel tired as a result.
Planning for Fatigue
Whether you have other cancer symptoms or not, most people will have fatigue at one time or another. This fatigue will be completely debilitating and it can come upon you at any time. But since you know this ahead of time, you can begin to plan to be tired. When you are undergoing an intensive treatment like chemotherapy or radiation, you should be certain to ask for help ahead of time. Gather together a list of people who can help you with your errands, your chores, and your other responsibilities. You should try to delegate as much of your life out of your hands as possible to make this time easier.
In addition, you should make sure to have as many healthy foods available as possible. Taking in calories will help you to keep your energy levels up. But if you find your appetite is weak after cancer treatment, you will want to have nutritional drinks available.
Of course, taking the time to rest is one of the most crucial steps to getting your energy levels back. You need to schedule in nap times and sleep times so that you can stop and regroup between treatments and other cancer related therapies.
Finally, it will be helpful to find ways to manage your stress levels when you are dealing with cancer. Many studies are showing that high stress levels can make a cancer patient even more prone to cancer fatigue. In managing your stress now, you will be able to stay more active in your life.
Cancer fatigue may be unavoidable for most patients, but it is manageable. By taking the time to delegate, to have healthy foods available, sleep, and to manage your stress, you will be able to have more good days than bad.