Feeling Tired vs. Cancer-Related Fatigue
If you are fighting cancer, chances are you’re also fighting fatigue. Fatigue is the most common side effect of cancer treatment, and it often hits without warning. Everyday activities – talking on the phone, shopping for groceries, even lifting a fork to eat – can become daunting tasks.
Cancer-related fatigue is different.
Cancer-related fatigue is very different from everyday fatigue. Many patients describe it as overwhelming, affecting every part of their lives. It leaves them feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted.
When compared with the fatigue that healthy people sometimes have, cancer-related fatigue is worse. It lasts longer and sleep doesn’t make it better.
A common, frustrating problem
Research suggests that most people getting cancer treatment have fatigue. For patients getting chemotherapy in cycles, fatigue often peaks within a few days and then gets better until the next treatment, when the pattern begins again. For patients getting radiation, fatigue usually gets worse as the treatment goes on.
Fatigue may go on to last from months to years after treatment ends, too. Many cancer patients say fatigue is the most distressing side effect of cancer and its treatment.
Left untreated, fatigue can upset the patient’s quality of life. It can affect daily routines, self-care, recreation, and relationships.
Fatigue or depression?
Some of the symptoms of fatigue look a lot like those of depression, and sometimes people confuse the two. Depression involves an inability to feel pleasure – people who are depressed feel sad or unworthy, and have despair or guilt. You can have fatigue and not be depressed. But sometimes it may be hard to find a label for what you’re feeling.
Try to tell your doctor exactly how you feel and how it affects the things you do. People with fatigue may describe feeling moody, sad, irritable, or frustrated. They may say they feel tired, weak, exhausted, weary, worn-out, or slow. Maybe they have no energy and cannot focus.
Only you know if you have fatigue and how it’s changing your ability to enjoy life. Talk to your health care team so you can find ways to feel better.
Some signs of cancer-related fatigue are:
- Feeling tired, weary, or exhausted even after sleeping
- Not having energy to do your regular activities
- Having trouble concentrating, thinking clearly, or remembering
- Feeling negative, irritable, impatient, or unmotivated
- Lacking interest in normal day-to-day activities
- Spending less attention on personal appearance
- Spending more time in bed or sleeping
Causes of cancer-related fatigue
The causes of cancer-related fatigue are not fully known. It may be caused by the cancer and/or the cancer treatment. Problems like a low blood counts, sleep problems, stress, pain, eating too little, lack of exercise, and other factors are also thought to be linked to this fatigue.
It’s important that you talk to your doctors about any unpleasant effects you’re having. This way your health care team can monitor and treat those problems, both during active cancer treatment and afterward when some physical problems can linger.
When there are no obvious physical causes for a patient or survivor’s excessive fatigue, doctors may want to run tests to rule out hidden medical problems. When medical issues are ruled out, certain practical methods have been developed to manage and minimize cancer-related fatigue, including good sleep habits, approved physical activities, and smart use of your time and energy.
You may need to come up with different ways to do things, decide what you can give up, set priorities, and get help so you can better manage cancer-related fatigue.
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