Cancer Treatment and Tiredness: Connection, Indicators, and Remedies
Managing Chemotherapy-Related Fatigue: A Comprehensive Approach
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for cancer, but it often comes with a side effect known as "chemo fatigue." This fatigued state, experienced by many individuals undergoing chemotherapy, can be managed effectively through a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.
Pharmacological Treatments
Medications play a crucial role in managing chemo fatigue. For instance, medications like astragalus polysaccharides (PG2) have shown promise in alleviating chemotherapy-induced fatigue by potentially boosting energy and immune function [1]. In some cases, low-dose psychostimulants or corticosteroids may be used short-term under medical supervision for significant functional impairment or palliative care [2]. Treating underlying causes such as anemia, thyroid dysfunction, or vitamin deficiencies (especially B12 and D) are also important [2].
Non-Pharmacological Interventions
In addition to medications, lifestyle and behavioral modifications can significantly help manage chemo fatigue. Light to moderate physical activity, such as walking, yoga, or stationary cycling, for 15–30 minutes daily can improve circulation, muscle strength, mood, and sleep quality, paradoxically reducing fatigue [2][3].
Energy conservation techniques, taught by occupational therapy, can help balance activity and rest. These strategies include pacing, organizing tasks, and using assistive devices to avoid energy crashes [2]. Psychosocial support, including counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and support groups, can help reduce fatigue severity by addressing anxiety, depression, and fear related to cancer and treatment [2].
Maintaining regular sleep schedules, minimizing interruptions, and optimizing nutrition support overall energy levels [2][3]. It's also important to monitor for and manage side effects that can worsen fatigue, such as pain and insomnia.
Additional Care Tips
Additional care tips include following any medical advice about infection prevention during immune suppression periods after chemotherapy [3][4]. If a person's taste has changed due to chemotherapy, they can try avoiding foods that taste strange but trying them every few weeks or so. Using plastic utensils instead of metal ones can also help manage changes in taste.
If mouth ulcers are present due to chemotherapy, a person should avoid hot and spicy foods. Eating several small meals and snacks each day can help manage changes in appetite. If food tastes the same due to chemotherapy, a person can try choosing foods with strong flavors.
A Multifaceted Strategy
Managing chemotherapy-related fatigue requires a multifaceted strategy involving medications to address biological causes, lifestyle and behavioral modifications to support energy balance, and psychosocial care to improve overall quality of life [1][2][3]. Yoga and mindfulness may also be beneficial for managing cancer-related fatigue, according to some research.
When someone is fatigued, they tend to feel tired, heavy, weak, worn out, or sluggish, lack energy, and struggle to find motivation to do things. Identifying things that help decrease fatigue can help manage chemotherapy-related fatigue. If a person notices problems with their nerves or muscle weakness, they should ask a healthcare professional about physical therapy.
It's important to remember that everyone's experience with chemotherapy is unique, and the intensity and duration of fatigue can vary greatly. Learning to distinguish between fatigue and depression can help manage chemo fatigue. Signs of fatigue after chemotherapy include a feeling of tiredness that does not ease with rest or sleep, tiredness that does not seem to be caused by any particular activity, interference with work or social life, typical activities feeling more tiring than usual, legs and arms feeling heavy and difficult to move, feelings of weakness and lack of energy, spending more time in bed than usual, sleeping more or less than usual, confusion, and difficulty concentrating.
[1] Liu, R., et al. (2018). Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) for the treatment of cancer-related fatigue: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Cancer Medicine, 7(12), 4814–4824.
[2] National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). (2019). NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Cancer-Related Fatigue.
[3] National Cancer Institute. (2019). Fatigue. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/fatigue/fatigue-hp-pdq
[4] National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). (2018). Cancer-related fatigue: Recognition and management in adults and young people. Retrieved from https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg53
- In addition to medications like astragalus polysaccharides, maintaining regular sleep schedules, light to moderate physical activity, and psychosocial support can aid in managing chemotherapy-related fatigue.
- The multi-faceted approach for managing chemotherapy-related fatigue not only includes pharmacological treatments, but also non-pharmacological methods such as lifestyle modifications, energy conservation techniques, and counseling or support groups.
