Fatigue and Anemia
Cancer-related fatigue is a persistent sense of tiredness or exhaustion from cancer or cancer treatment. Fatigue can get so bad that people sometimes report simple tasks that require little effort, such as walking across room, are exhausting and even seemingly impossible. It is common for fatigue to appear after:
- A few days after chemotherapy treatment
- A few weeks after beginning radiation treatment
- Following treatment with immunotherapy (also known as biologic therapy)
When a cancer patient is feeling fatigued, they may be tempted to avoid or skip cancer treatments. This isn't the answer! If your parent is suffering from chronic fatigue, the first step is talk to your parent's doctor. To understand the fatigue problem, the doctor may ask at what times your parent feels especially tired and whether the fatigue affects the ability to perform regular activities. The doctor might also take blood samples to determine whether anemia (a low red blood cell count) or another problem may be causing fatigue. Here are some questions to ask the doctor about cancer-related fatigue:
- What problems should I call you about?
- What medicine or treatments can help?
- What foods and drinks are best?
- How much liquid should my parent drink each day?
- What exercises can help my parent feel better?
The doctor might suggest supplements such as iron, folic acid, B12, and he/she might prescribe medication.
Eating foods high in iron, such as red meat, beans, almonds, broccoli, and enriched breads and cereals might also help. Exercise is another good solution – but be sure to check with doctor before your parent begins any exercise regimen. Even exercise such as walking a few minutes every day has shown to be help. Cancer patients who exercise moderately experience less overall fatigue and report improvement in appetite.