It's common to feel tired or lack energy during cancer treatment, but the sources of that extreme tiredness aren't always easy to identify. Your tiredness may come from anemia, side effects of medications, not eating enough food or drinking enough fluids, being unable to rest or sleep adequately, infection, stress, or other factors.
If you have persistent fatigue most days, talk about it with your health care team. They'll check you out for anemia and other possible medical causes, such as breathing problems or an electrolyte imbalance.
These energy boosters are helpful ways to cope and get more energy:
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Exercise - Really. Light to moderate exercise, such as walking, fires up your energy level and helps you eat and sleep better. When you start moving, even if you're in bed, you'll improve your physical functioning and emotional outlook. That helps push away exhaustion.
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Try shorter routines - Don't give up your favorite activities. Scale back to the ones that are most important to you, then try easier versions that take less time.
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Soothe stress -Tension from stress and worrying can wear you out. Try the calming benefits of meditation, prayer, yoga, guided imagery, or visualization. Avoid situations and people you find stressful. Participating in a support group, where you can talk about your concerns, may also help.
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Eat small amounts of healthful food -You need more nutrition during cancer treatment, yet you might have difficulty eating. If you can't take in much food, make sure that what you eat is rich in vitamins and nutrients. Talk with a dietitian about good food choices to boost your energy. For more on what to eat while in treatment, go to our Nutrition Section.
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Drink plenty of fluids - Water and juices help combat fatigue. Limit caffeine and alcohol.
Plan your rest. Short naps or rest breaks are good. Long naps reduce your energy and can affect how well you sleep at night.
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Let others help - Get assistance with household and yard chores from family, friends, or hired helpers. Save your strength for the activities you enjoy and do them at the time of day when you have the most energy.