Fatigue/Tiredness

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During chemotherapy or radiation treatments over 50% of cancer patients experience fatigue or tiredness. For extreme fatigue caused by anemia, your doctor may prescribe epoetin alfa (Procrit® or Epogen®) or darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp®).

To combat fatigue or tiredness, as well as anemia, at home you may want to:

• Slow down. Especially for a few days after chemotherapy treatments.
• Get plenty of rest. Sleep more at night and take naps during the day if you can.
• Follow an aerobic exercise routine (recommended by your doctor for your particular cancer condition). Start with something simple such as walking for a few minutes, and build on that. It's reported that people who exercise regularly during treatments experience less fatigue overall.
• Conserve your energy and prioritize your activities in order of importance. You may not be able to keep the same pace of life as you did during your pre-treatment days.
• Eat a well-balanced diet, including plenty of calories and protein. If you don't feel like eating, try smaller snacks and juices or a liquid meal replacement. Or try taking a walk before eating or changing your eating location.