Get enough calories. This isn’t the time to start a diet – even if you’re overweight. A sizable amount of what you lose in chemo is muscle mass… a sure way to wind up fatigued. Eating enough calories may be more important than eating healthy. When you are fighting cancer is not a good time to diet. Talk with your doctor, oncologist, or nutritionist to find out how many calories per day you need to consume while in chemo. You may have to nibble all day to get enough calories and to keep your stomach settled. You may find you can only eat one food – like pudding or potatoes. Just make sure you eat enough calories from that food for your needs to keep up your strength. You can worry about dieting after you have recovered from chemo. In the meantime be kind to yourself.
Take supplements for balanced nutrition. Poor nutrition can contribute to fatigue. So, to ensure you get all the necessary nutrients during chemotherapy treatment, take multivitamins and other supplements. Calcium is important for women so be sure to take one with vitamin D and magnesium for absorption. Be sure to speak with your doctor before taking any supplements so as not to interfere with your chemo treatments. If you feel too tired or nauseous to eat, check with your doctor about IV nutrients.
Keep nausea under control. If you have nausea, tell your doctor right away. There are drugs that can help you control it. Some drugs can constipate you so tell your doctor so he/she can prescribe a laxative that will be safe with your other medications and chemo drugs.
Fortify your blood. Fatigue can be caused by anemia which is a condition in which the blood needs more red blood cells to carry the oxygen the body needs. Chemotherapy drugs can cause anemia by affecting the bone marrow, where red blood cells are produced. If blood tests indicate anemia, ask your doctor about supplements with iron or medications that can make your body produce more red blood cells.
Manage stress. Anxiety was linked to fatigue in chemotherapy patients in a 2008 study published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Try journaling or blogging about your experience a few times a week, she advises. You can also participate in online forums for folks undergoing cancer treatment. Share fears and uplifting info with others.
Improve your sleep. Worrying about your chemotherapy treatments not only will give you insomnia but will also sap your energy. If you find yourself awake at late hours, ask your doctor about prescribing a sleep aid or supplement.
Move your body. Take a 30 to 45-minute walk every day, rain or shine. Sunlight and fresh air, moving your body, and talking to a friend reduces fatigue. Getting exercise not only fights chemo fatigue — but it also might help you live longer. Postmenopausal women with breast cancer were more likely to survive if they participated in nine or more hours of physical activity per week — even if they had not been physically active before diagnosis, reports a 2011 study by Cancer Prevention Research.
Ask your doctor about stimulants. (I have mixed feelings about this suggestion. I never needed stimulants while undergoing chemo for 4 separate cancers… over a 20+ year period of time. This was included in several articles I researched when writing this article for you but I would be cautious about taking stimulants.)
