One of the toughest parts of cancer treatment is the extreme fatigue that the patient has to go through. The feeling of being very tired all the time can have a great negative effect on the patient’s day to day life and often leads to high levels of depression as well. It is important to understand that fatigue is just a phase that can last for a varied duration of time, sometimes extending beyond the treatment itself. In order recover faster, cancer patients need to be able to cope with fatigue. Here are some ideas on how they can do this:
- Speak to your doctor or counselor and find out about the side-effects of the medication you will be taking and how they will affect your level of energy.
- Pain is a contributing factor to fatigue so find out how you can bring down the level of pain you suffer.
- Make small changes in your daily routine in order to conserve energy. Try not to do chores while standing, for example, use a high stool with wheels when in the kitchen. This way you can chop vegetables, cook and wash dishes without having to stand all the time.
- Learn relaxation exercises and techniques like meditation and yoga that will help you relax as well as boost your stamina and energy levels.
- Whenever you feel that you have exerted yourself, take a small break or nap to revive your energy levels. Try not to go for too long without taking rest as this will increase your fatigue.
- Don’t hesitate to ask people to help you out with things, that’s what family and friends are for!
