Fatigue
Managing Your Cancer Treatment-Related Fatigue

Fatigue is a feeling of tiredness that can keep you from doing the things you normally do or want to do. Fatigue is very common among people receiving cancer treatments. Factors such as cancer itself, low blood counts, nutritional problems, and sleep problems contribute to fatigue, but the exact cause is not known.

Signs of Fatigue:

• You feel weary or exhausted. It may be physical, emotional, and/or mental exhaustion.



• Your body, especially your arms and legs, may feel heavy.



• You have less desire to do normal activities like eating or shopping.



• You may find it hard to concentrate or think clearly.

What You Can Do to Manage Your Fatigue:

• REST
  Rest and sleep are important, but don't overdo it. Too much rest can decrease your energy level. In other words, the more you rest, the more tired you will feel. If you have trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor or nurse. A "Power Nap" during the day is one hour or less.



• ACTIVITY
  Stay as active as you can. Regular exercise like walking several times each week may help. You may find that you are most able to exercise early in the day. Set short term goals for yourself (ie: 10 minutes, 2 blocks), and then increase as you are able. Reward yourself.



• NUTRITION
  Drink plenty of liquids. Eat as well as you can, and eat nutritious foods. Carbohydrates and proteins are quick energy foods. Supplements, though nutritious, haven't been proven to directly reduce fatigue.



• ENERGY CONSERVATION
  You can do more by spreading your activities throughout the day. Take rest breaks between activities. Rest breaks save energy for the things you want to do. Let others help you with meals, housework, or errands. Do not force yourself to do more than you can manage. Because cancer-related fatigue is not the result of over-activity, resting or reducing activity alone, will not improve or lessen fatigue. Energy conservation is the deliberate, planned management of personal energy resources, to attempt to decrease energy depletion (Barsevick, et al., 2004).



• ENERGY RESTORATION
  Do activities that you enjoy and make you feel good. Many people enjoy nature activities such as bird watching or gardening. Try listening to music, or visiting with friends and family, or looking at pleasant pictures. Try to do these activities at least three times per week.

Talk to Your Nurse . . .

• If you have been too tired to get out of bed for the past 24 hours.



• If you feel confused or cannot think clearly.



• If your fatigue becomes worse.

Source:
Lynette Radke, RN, MS, OCN^®
Marshfield Cancer Center, Marshfield, WI.
Melissa Donofrio, RN, BA, OCN^®,
Miller-Dwan Medical Center, Duluth, MN.
Marilyn Grainger, RN, MS, OCN^®,
Regional Cancer Center, Waukesha, WI.
Rosanne Schultz, RN, MS, OCN^®,
Lutheran Hospital, LaCrosse, WI.