Fatigue Relief Strategies
- Fatigue is a common side effect of chemotherapy treatment
- You may get more tired with each subsequent chemo cycle
- A healthy diet, daily exercise, and good-quality sleep can help combat fatigue
"What I typically tell patients is that [chemotherapy] is a bit of a roller coaster ride," says Dr. Zachary Reese, medical oncologist at Intermountain Healthcare in St. George, Utah, near Salt Lake City. "You're going to feel tired about a week into treatment, and that's when you'll hit bottom. And then you’ll start to come back up again just in time to do it all over."
Read MoreFatigue Can Linger, and Get Worse
Unfortunately, fatigue isn't a side effect that occurs on the first go-round of chemotherapy and then fades away in subsequent cycles. "[Fatigue] gets a little bit worse as you go from one cycle to the next," says Dr. Reese. "You'll feel a little more tired the second time around than you did the first, and it will last a day longer." The same holds true for any cycles that may follow. While this persistent tiredness can leave you feeling discouraged, it's important to think about why you're likely feeling fatigued to begin with. Chemotherapy's role in ovarian cancer treatment is to attack quickly dividing cells in the body. In an ideal scenario, only the cancer cells would be affected, but it's impossible for the medication to pinpoint and destroy only diseased cells. That means healthy cells become innocent bystanders of chemotherapy, as well.It's when these healthy cells start to die that fatigue can set in. By keeping in mind how important this treatment is to getting you well, you can mentally prepare and handle fatigue as you visualize the bigger picture: long-lasting health and a cancer-free future.
How to Fight Fatigue
Although everyone’s experience is slightly different, fatigue typically lasts from seven to 10 days after treatment (taking into account how many chemotherapy cycles you have completed). But there are a number of strategies you can–and should–adopt now to be proactive and handle fatigue more effectively. Things like eating a healthy diet filled with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and getting enough quality sleep at night will support your body both during chemotherapy and beyond as you recover.
In addition to these healthy living strategies, Dr. Reese's top tip is to stay active. "This doesn't mean that anyone expects chemotherapy patients to run a 5K or a marathon, but getting out and doing 30 minutes of exercise a day can go a long way," he says. If 30 minutes a day seems daunting, start with just 10 minutes and then add on a few extra minutes each day. Pick an activity you enjoy, so that you're not watching the clock the whole time. Things like walking with a friend or family member, swimming laps, or yoga all count as exercise.
It may seem counterintuitive to exercise as a means to stop feeling tired (particularly if you're constantly feeling tired to begin with), but maintaining an active lifestyle will not only help you deal with fatigue, but will also help you get through the remainder of your treatment. "[Physical activity] won't eliminate fatigue, but it's going to minimize it so that you will be able to get through the required number of treatments and come out the other end feeling better and stronger," says Dr. Reese.
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