Managing Cancer Fatigue: Tips for Boosting Energy

Whether it’s one of your initial symptoms or a side effect of treatment, fatigue and feelings of tiredness are very common when dealing with a lymphoma diagnosis. Usually, ordinary fatigue can be remedied with rest, but that is not always the case with cancer-related fatigue.

Don’t stress – there are plenty of ways to feel energized during treatment. While it is important to give your body rest when needed, there’s ways to incorporate activity and boost your energy so you can maintain as normal a life as possible amid treatment.

What is Fatigue?

Fatigue is typically defined as a lack of energy combined with feelings of exhaustion and tiredness. Similarly, cancer related fatigue is defined as tiredness or exhaustion that is related either to the cancer itself or to side effects from cancer treatment. This fatigue is different from normal feelings of exhaustion that stem from activity or from lack of sleep and often can’t be remedied easily. Fatigue is the most reported symptom among cancer patients and can sometimes persist even after treatment ends.

Some of the symptoms of fatigue include:

• Difficulty performing simple tasks
• Shortness of breath
• Muscle weakness
• Trouble waking up after a full night of sleep
• Extreme tiredness and overall lack of energy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty performing certain tasks

Managing Fatigue

One way to fight fatigue is by ensuring you’re getting enough rest, especially as you go through active treatment. On top of aiming for seven to eight hours of sleep each night, you can also incorporate restful practices such as naps, low-impact movement, and meditation.

Fatigue isn’t always fixed by sleep, but sleep is still an important tool in fighting fatigue. Having healthy sleep practices and good sleep health can help combat fatigue, while a poor night’s sleep might make things worse. Some tips for managing your fatigue levels could be to keep a log of when you are feeling fatigued to see if there’s anything that alleviates or exacerbates it, as well as keeping a consistent sleep schedule.

If fatigue is getting in the way of your daily life, it’s important to reach out for support. Your friends and family can help in their role as care partners by taking over some of your everyday tasks like chores or transportation, allowing you to save your energy for what matters most.

For more information on managing fatigue and sleep, check out this article: Sleep Health and Management During Cancer Treatment

How Lymphoma Impacts Energy Levels

Lymphoma impacts the lymphatic and immune systems. These two systems play a crucial role in waste management for the body.  The immune systems and lymphatic systems help power the body by getting rid of the waste and providing oxygen and nutrients to cells, which in turn give the body energy.

When these systems are under attack from lymphoma, it can be harder for them to perform their tasks. This may present itself as feelings of fatigue because when the immune and lymphatic systems aren’t working properly, they use more of your body’s energy to help them recover. While your body is working hard to mend these systems, you may be left tired and groggy as a result.

How Does Cancer Treatment Impact Energy Levels?

While many lymphoma treatments are often well-tolerated, it’s normal to experience some side effects – including increased fatigue levels and loss of energy, as well as side effects that may make you less inclined to go about your normal routines, like nausea, brain fog, and decreased immunity.

Up to 90% of patients who receive chemotherapy report feelings of fatigue during treatment. Similar side effects are reported from patients who receive other types of treatment, like radiotherapy and immunotherapy. It’s important to talk to your doctor about any increased levels of fatigue you’re experiencing and discuss ways to mitigate it, whether it’s through an adjustment to your treatment plan or adding some supportive care practices.

Dealing with Post-Treatment Fatigue

Lingering feelings of fatigue are completely normal post treatment. Learning to manage these feelings and impacts can be very important to your overall help. Your doctor or healthcare provider can also be a tool in coming up with a plan for managing fatigue post-treatment. Here are some tips to help you manage your post-treatment fatigue:

• Exercise regularly – Light physical activity, such as walking or yoga, can combat feelings of fatigue.
• Practice self-care – Self-care, such as journaling or meditation, can help moderate your fatigue and address where it comes from.
• Prioritize nutrition and hydration – A balanced diet and proper hydration are crucial for increasing energy levels.
• Talk to loved ones – Support from loved ones can help relieve stress which could be a factor in your fatigue.

Even though fatigue post-treatment is common, you may want to talk to your doctor when you can’t get out of bed, experience memory problems, severe pain or depression, struggle to breathe, or are unable to control any other side effects.

Tips for Boosting Energy

There are many ways to boost energy when dealing with a lymphoma diagnosis. Some methods offer an immediate boost to that feeling, while others are long-term habits you can incorporate into your lifestyle.

Although there is no specific way to prevent cancer fatigue from happening, here are some ways to help:

• Try exercising – it is scientifically proven to improve fatigue levels and boost energy in cancer patients. Going for walks and staying active doesn’t just help your energy levels but can improve your mood as well.
• Be mindful of caffeine consumption – while caffeine might provide a short-term boost, drinking caffeine late and the day can keep you up at night, and may lead to fatigue the next day
• Nourish your body – having a balanced diet is a crucial way to regulate tiredness
• Have a healthy sleep schedule – making sure to sleep at the same time each day can help build habits which can boost daily energy

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