Fatigue is a very common side effect of cancer treatment. Unlike everyday tiredness, it can occur suddenly and is not necessarily brought on by exercise or a long day of activity. Everyone copes in different ways, however the following tips may help you manage fatigue.
- Talk to your healthcare team
Start by talking to your healthcare team about how you are feeling, including how long you have felt fatigued. It may help to keep a diary of your daily fatigue levels which can help you learn when you have the most and least energy. By speaking to your health care team, they can rule out or treat conditions like pain or anaemia that may to the fatigue.
- Take regular breaks throughout the day
Save your energy for when you need it most. Try to do one thing at a time and include regular short breaks throughout the day.
- Keep your schedule flexible and prioritise
While it is helpful to plan a schedule for your day, try to keep this flexible. You may find that tasks you could usually achieve in one day, need to be prioritized and spread out over several days. Try to keep an open mind and be kind to yourself while you're recovering.
- Eat healthy
Eating healthy during your cancer treatment has numerous benefits, including giving you more energy. If you find you don't have much appetite, try to eat small, frequent meals and snacks. Make sure you drink lots of water during the day and avoid smoking or alcohol.
For healthy recipe ideas, visit our LiveLighter website.
- Be active
Research shows regular exercise during or after treatment can help to reduce fatigue and give you more energy. You may like to participate in our Life Now exercise program, which is specifically designed for cancer patients.
- Set up a bedtime routine including relaxation
Although you feel fatigued during the day, you may still find it difficult to fall asleep at night, making your fatigue worse. Setting up a bedtime routing with relaxation activities, such as meditation, can help you get a good night's sleep. Try to avoid using computers, mobile phones or tablets in the evening, and keep daytime naps short. You may also like to consider counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as these can help with fatigue and sleep problems.
- Ask family, friends and neighbours to help you
It can feel difficult to get everything done when you are managing fatigue. Consider asking family, friends and neighbours to help you with day to day tasks such as cooking, cleaning and shopping. Apps such as Gather My Crew can help you organise your support crew.
