Fatigue—feeling tired and lacking energy—is a common symptom reported by cancer patients. The exact cause is not always known. It can be due to your disease, chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, low blood counts, lack of sleep, pain, stress, and poor appetite, along with many other factors.

Fatigue from chemotherapy feels different from fatigue of everyday life. Fatigue caused by chemotherapy can appear suddenly. Patients with cancer have described it as a total lack of energy and have used words such as worn out, drained, and wiped out to describe their fatigue. Rest does not always relieve it. Not everyone feels the same kind of fatigue. It can last days, weeks, or even months.

Tips for Coping

Here are some tips on coping with fatigue:

• Plan your day so that you have time to rest.
• Take short naps or breaks, rather than one long rest period.
• Save your energy for the most important things.
• Try easier or shorter versions of activities that you enjoy.
• Take short walks and do light exercise, if possible. Exercise may help to reduce fatigue.
• Talk to your doctor about ways to save your energy and treat your fatigue. Certain medications may be helpful in reducing your symptoms depending on the cause of your fatigue.
• Try activities like meditation, yoga, guided imagery, and visualization.
• Consider alternative therapies like acupuncture.
• Eat as well as you can and drink plenty of fluids. Eat small amounts at a time, if that is helpful. Your doctor may have you work with a dietitian to make sure that you are meeting your nutritional needs.
• Limit the amount of caffeine and alcohol you drink.
• Join a support group. Sharing your feelings with others can ease the burden of fatigue. You can learn how others deal with their fatigue. Your doctor can connect you with a support group in your area. You may also find it helpful to work with a therapist.
• Ask family and friends to help you with household chores and shopping.
• Keep a diary of how you feel each day. This will help you plan your daily activities.
• Report any changes in energy level to your doctor.