Chemotherapy

Fatigue is one of the common side effects which are caused by chemotherapy treatment. Basically chemotherapy is treatment to cure cancer. Various type of chemotherapy drugs are used to treat cancer.

Though chemotherapy is effective in treating cancer, it causes some side effects including nausea, vomiting, fatigue, low appetite, sickness and hair loss. Among them, fatigue is common side effect which is lack of energy and feeling tired. Other reasons that cause fatigue may be change of sleep patterns and eating habits.

Fatigue that is related to cancer or chemotherapy is caused by various factors that include:

• Anemia is caused by the lowering of red blood cell counts because of chemotherapy. Fatigue can be caused by anemia.
• If patient is undergoing more than one treatment at a time, like chemotherapy and radiation, he can suffer from fatigue.
• Chemotherapy treatment can cause loss of appetite which may result into fatigue.
  Stress or depression regarding cancer and chemotherapy may lead to fatigue. Age as well as energy level of patient also matters.
• During chemotherapy, some patients continue to work full or part-time while others are unable to work or do not work. Whether patient is working or not, he still experience some degree of chemotherapy related fatigue.

Though fatigue related to cancer or chemotherapy is common, fighting fatigue is not much difficult. With few changes in your daily routine, you can easily combat chemotherapy related fatigue.

• Plan your day in advance so that you can include short rest periods, like naps and lying down. Take short naps or breaks instead of long rest period.
• Exercise like short walk, use a stationary bike, or even doing yoga meditation, prayer; guided imagery, visualization, etc. can raise your energy level. You may find this helps with fatigue. Consult with doctor before doing any exercise.
• Eat as much as you can and drink plenty of fluids. Eat small amounts at a time, if that is helpful. Try to limit the amount of caffeine and alcohol you drink.
• Allow your family members to do things like cleaning the kitchen or taking out the trash to save your energy for the most important things.
• Do join a support group. It will help you to share your feelings with others. You can learn how others deal with their fatigue.
• Try to find out source or reason of fatigue as it will help you to combat it in the best possible way. A simple blood test can find if you are suffering from anemia or a thyroid disorder. These are both common conditions found in cancer patients and cause fatigue.
• Note down how you feel each day in a diary. Plan your daily activities. If there are any changes in your energy level, report to your doctor or medical team. Consult your health care provider about various ways to save your energy and treat your fatigue.