Patient education: When your cancer treatment makes you tired (The Basics)

Why does cancer treatment make me tired? — 

Feeling tired is a common side effect of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation. Also, people who have surgery usually feel tired afterward.

Other factors can make people feel tired. People might feel tired, weak, or have no energy because they:

●Are sad, worried, or stressed

●Aren't eating enough

●Have trouble sleeping, or do not get enough sleep

●Have pain

●Have anemia – This is a condition in which the body has too few red blood cells. When this happens, the body doesn't get all of the oxygen it needs.

Will I need tests? — 

Maybe. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and daily activities. They might also do blood tests to check for conditions that could make you feel tired but can be treated. Examples of these conditions include anemia or low hormone levels in men.

What can I do on my own to feel less tired? — 

You can:

●Exercise – This can increase your energy and help improve your appetite. Try to exercise every day, even if it's just a short walk. Check with your doctor first to make sure that it's safe for you to exercise.

●Do yoga – Doing gentle yoga with breathing exercises helps many people feel less tired and sleep better at night.

●Lower your stress – You can:

•Not try to do too much. Instead, ask your family and friends to help you get your chores done.

•Take time off from work or work fewer hours, if possible.

•Do relaxation exercises, or meditate.

•Talk with a mental health expert, or go to a support group.

●Save your energy – To avoid using too much energy, you can change your daily routines and how you go about your activities. For example, try to plan ahead, rest often, and use devices to help you reach things.

For general and specific tips on ways to save your energy, see the tables (table 1 and table 2).

●Improve your sleep habits – Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. If you have trouble sleeping, you can do things to improve your sleep habits. For example, you can:

•Avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine in the late afternoon or evening.

•Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.

•Limit your naps during the day, and don't nap more than 30 minutes at a time. For more tips on ways to improve your sleep habits, see the table (table 3).

●Make sure to eat and drink enough fluids each day. You can also ask your doctor or nurse about taking a daily vitamin.

When should I call my doctor or nurse? — 

Call if you:

●Feel dizzy or very weak, or have trouble breathing

●Are so tired that you can't do your daily activities, including bathing, getting dressed, and eating

Are there treatments that might help my symptoms? — 

Yes. Different types of treatments might help, depending on your symptoms and other conditions. These can include:

●Treatments for anemia, if you have it – Doctors can treat certain kinds of anemia with medicines to help the body make more red blood cells. They can also do a procedure called a "blood transfusion." During a blood transfusion, a person gets blood that has been donated by someone else.

●Steroid medicines – These can increase energy in people who are severely tired and weak. They are usually used only for a short time because of side effects.

●American ginseng – Taking this herb every day can improve energy levels in people who are tired during cancer treatment. But check with your doctor before starting it. It can interact with a number of other medicines.

●Medicines to treat depression – In addition to feeling very sad, people with depression often feel tired and don't sleep well at night. If you are depressed, your doctor might prescribe medicines called "antidepressants."

●Low levels of the male hormone testosterone can cause tiredness. Some men can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy. Your doctor can talk to you about whether this might be an option for you.

Doctors do not recommend stimulant medicines for most people. But they might prescribe these in certain situations, for example, if you feel very tired because you take opioid medicines for pain.

More on this topic

Patient education: Managing loss of appetite and weight loss with cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Managing pain when you have cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Nausea and vomiting with cancer treatment (The Basics)
Patient education: Chemotherapy (The Basics)
Patient education: Brachytherapy (The Basics)
Patient education: External beam radiation therapy (The Basics)
Patient education: Good sleep hygiene (The Basics)
Patient education: Medicines for depression (The Basics)
Patient education: Low testosterone in males (The Basics)